Microclimax, Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 210

Microclimax gen. nov.

Type-species: Tomaspis luteosignatus Valdés Ragués (1910) sensu Metcalf & Bruner (1944) , the only included species.

Etymology. micro- small, klimax (f), ladder, referring to the veins of the costal margin.

Distribution. Cuba.

Diagnosis. Tegmina each with 2 large anteapical cells, without small, round central anteapical cell, costal margin with ladder of 5–6 perpendicular crossveins, apical cells large, separated by unbranched veins.

Description. Head distinctly narrower than pronotum; crown weakly impressed transversely, with tip upturned, bearing grooves from angles of tylus to ocelli; anterior margin of crown not carinate; antenna with postpedicel bearing numerous large pits and a beaklike basiconic sensillum ( Fig. 24 F); eye round, as wide as lateral margins of pronotum. Tegmen with 5 perpendicular crossveins connecting outer anteapical cell to costa. Costal margin of hind wing with triangular lobe as in Liparonotum , but its 3 stout hooks are recumbent and equally spaced. Hind tibiae each with double pecten of 9 black-tipped spines, hind tarsal pectens with 9 black-tipped spines on basomere, 11 close-set spines in 2nd tarsomere. Male pygofer dorsoventrally compressed and armed with a spine on posterior margin as in Microsargane ( Fig. 50 A–B), but longer, extending nearly to tips of subgenital plates ( Fig. 60 A); anal tube weakly sclerotized, surrounded by rounded lobes on the dorsal margin of the pygofer; subgenital plate elongate, tapered to blunt tip ( Fig. 60 D); phallobase short ( Fig. 60 B) and very broad, almost as wide as subgenital plates and tapered caudad; style broad, apical half bearing very long setae and deeply notched just before robust apical spine directed dorsad ( Fig. 60 A), in dorsal aspect with 2 short teeth on upper edge ( Fig. 60 G); theca tubular, weakly laterally compressed, bearing some 90 spinelike setae in tufts flanking gonopore ( Fig. 60 B–C), the latter slitlike, extending half length of shaft on anterior surface. Ovipositor base preceded by broad, rectangular plate arched over 1st valvifers, itself preceded by bulbous, strongly sclerotized body near sternum, open on posterior face and along midline of upper side.

Remarks. Similar to Liparonotum in the length of the lateral margins of the pronotum, the shape of the costal lobe on the hind wing and the spiny theca, but the antennal basiconic sensillum is broad rather than spinelike, the lora are narrower, the tegminal venation is quite different and the male pygofer bears a very prominent lateral spine.

Only one species is known.

Figures

FIGURES 24. Antennal characters of Microsarganini: A, Microsargane vittata, antenna in situ, scale line 200 µm; B, same, detail of pedicel and postpedicel, scale line 100 µm; C, Microlaqueus isolatus, antenna in situ; D, same, detail of pedicel and postpedicel, scale line 100 µm; E, same, closeup of antennal pits; F, Microclimax luteosignatus, detail of postpedicel, scale line 50 µm; G, same, closeup of antennal pits; H, Microrhaphe martialis, detail of pedicel and postpedicel, scale line 100 µm; J, Liparonotum praenitidum; antenna in situ; K, same, detail of pedicel and postpedicel, scale line 50 µm; L, same, details of sensilla, larger scale than others; M, Microtholia karykroua, antenna in situ, scale line 100 µm.

FIGURES 46 – 54. Male genitalia of nominate genus of Neaenini (46 – 49) and nominate subgenus of Microsarganini (50 – 54): 46, Neaenus natrix; 47, N. hystricosus; 48, N. (Neaniskus) gilli; 49, Helioptera gilvum; 50, Microsargane vittata; 51, M. apicata; 52, M. ornatipennis; 53, M. mutans; 54, M. cristata. A, lateral aspect of genital capsule and style; B, same, of theca; C, same in caudal aspect (with detail in Microsargane showing tips of processes in widest aspect); D, ventral aspect of subgenital plates, smaller scale; E, style, dorsal aspect.

FIGURES 55 – 60. Male genitalia of Microsargane new subgenera Microrhaphe (55) and Microtholia (56 – 58) compared to Microclimax gen. nov. (59): A, genital capsule, lateral aspect; B, same, theca and phallobase; C, theca, caudal aspect; D, fused subgenital plates; E, pygofer process, dorsal aspect; F, style tip, dorsal aspect). 55, M. martialis; 56, M. sobria sp. nov.; 57, M. karykroua sp. nov.; 58, M. habrotes sp. nov. (genital capsule as in M. karykroua); 59, M. ios (genital capsule, style and theca as in M. habrotes); 60, Microclimax luteosignata (Valdés Ragués) showing entire genital capsule (D) in ventral aspect at smaller scale.