Microsargane Fowler

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 211-212

Microsargane Fowler

Microsargane Fowler, 1897:196 . Type-species: M. vittata Fowler, 1897 .

Ecothera Melichar, 1915 , syn.nov. Type-species: Ecothera insignis Melichar, 1915 .

Distribution. Mexico south to Paraguay.

Diagnosis. Dark brown to black with impressed apical cells, usually striped with yellow and often with red markings near tips of tegmina; eyes transverse, as in Cicadellidae , but other characters as in Microclimax .

Description. Head narrower than pronotum, to as wide as pronotum; coronal margin carinate; crown with longitudinal median elevation weakly indicated; antenna with postpedicel small, bearing 7 pits of varying sizes as in Microlaqueus ( Fig. 24 D) but with coeloconic sensilla more loosely grouped ( Fig. 24 B); eye longer than deep, longer than lateral margins of pronotum. Tegmina each with 2 costal crossveins, outer and inner anteapical cells large, tip without small preapical cell, 2 veins reaching tip forking just before margin. Costal margin of hindwing with 3–4 erect hooks ( Fig. 1 D). Hind tibiae each with double pecten of 8–9 black-tipped spines, hind tarsal pectens with 6 black-tipped spines on basomere, 5–7 black-tipped spines on 2nd tarsomere. Male abdominal segment X sclerotized; pygofers with slender process directed caudad ( Fig. 50–57 A–B); subgenital plates broadly fused, tips truncate to rounded ( Figs 50–59 D), broader than in Microclimax ( Fig. 60 D); styles parallel-margined, with small apical tooth bearing a tuft of setae and another tuft on outer edge near midlength ( Figs 50–58 E); theca slender, with 1–5 pairs of decurved processes ( Figs 50–58 C). Ovipositor with accessory structures at base which vary considerably in size and shape, and may furnish additional specific characters when enough specimens can be examined to determine their variability.

Remarks. Males of the typical subgenus have a single pair of distinctive, serrate, forked thecal processes. The bright red spots or band across the anteapical cells is also distinctive.

There are 8 species including 3 new species in the nominate subgenus and 6 other new species belonging to two new subgenera, keyed and described below. Three species are known only from females; these are indicated in the key by an asterisk (*). Although the male genitalia suggest that these groupings are separate genera ( Figs 50 , 55, 56 ), barcoding shows that they are a maximum 8% divergent (in subgenus Microtholia, with M. sobria transitional to the nominate subgenus) and that the other subgenera are both 5% divergent from within Microtholia.

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 1 – 8. Examples of Microsarganini (1 – 3), Neaenini (4 – 5) and genera related to Phymatostetha (6 – 8) in dorsolateral aspect (A), dorsal aspect (B), lateral or ventrolateral aspect of head and thorax (C) and hind wing characters including detail of costal margin (D): 1, Microsargane sp.; 2, Microclimax luteosignatus; 3, Microlaqueus isolatus; 4, Helioptera gilvum; 5, Tomaspisinella lucifer sp. nov.; 6, Olcotomaspis laterinotata (Fowler), comb. nov.; 7, Hyalotomaspis clarissa (Jacobi); 8, Tomaspisina frontalis (Walker).

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.