Ferorhinella balatra, Paladini, Andressa, 2011

Paladini, Andressa, 2011, A new species of Ferorhinella with an unusual pattern of sexual size dimorphism (Hemiptera, Cercopidae, Tomaspidinae), Zootaxa 2728, pp. 57-60 : 57-59

Ferorhinella balatra sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–12 )

Measurements (ranges in mm males / females; N = 4 males and 37 females): length: 7.375–9.375 / 5.25–6.25 Length of tegmina: 6–7.25 / 3.875–4.750 Width of tegmina: 2.5–2.625 / 1.75–2.375

Head black with apex of vertex, mandibular plate, maxillary plate and tylus blood-red, eyes red, oval and arranged transversely; vertex rectangular, smooth, without median carina apparent; ocelli red, closer to each other than to the eyes, separated by about one and a half diameter of one of them. Tylus quadrangular without median carina distinct, with a fine pubescence. Antennae black, cylindrical pedicel with few sparse setae; basal body of flagellum with subcylindrical arista, shorter than pedicel. Postclypeus blood-red, inflated, with convex profile, not directed backward, swollen, with longitudinal carina poorly marked, lateral grooves slightly marked. Anteclypeus black, equal in size to last rostral segment; rostrum reaching apex of mesocoxae. Pronotum black, hexagonal, without median carina, finely punctured, anterior margin straight, lateral-anterior margin straight, lateral-posterior margins with slight sinuosity, posterior margin grooved. Scutellum black, with slight central concavity and without horizontally ridges. Tegmina black, grossly punctured, with round red spot at apex of clavus and two other spots, also rounded, between middle and apical third of tegmina. Latter spots may be connected by narrow and faint band, venation rather distinct. Wings hyaline with brown and distinct venation, Cu1 thickened at base. Abdomen and legs black. Hind tibia with two spines, basal one equal to those located in apical crown, crown with 12 spines distributed in two rows, basitarsus with 10 apical spines distributed in one row, covered by dense layer of setae. Subungueal process developed.

Male genitalia. Pygofer black with one digitiform lateral process between anal tube and subgenital plates, plates long compared to pygofer, with round apex, dorsal margin with few denticles; parameres subrectangular with apex short and rounded with three subapical spines: one located on dorsal margin similar to hook-like process; others long, sclerotized lamelliform, arranged in parallel. Aedeagus cylindrical, slender, S-shaped with apex bifid, gonopore subapical.

Female genitalia. First valve of ovipositor long and slender with acute apex and basal process developed, rounded, turned down; second valve long, dorsal margin smooth without teeth, third valve short and wide, with long setae ventrally.

Comments. Ferorhinella balatra is similar to F. brevis ( Walker, 1851) with respect to the characters of the genitalia and external morphology. However, F. balatra exhibits sexual size dimorphism: contrary to what normally occurs in Cercopidae , females are smaller and more rounded than males, which are elongated and larger. Because females of F. brevis are undescribed, it is unknown whether this kind of SSD is a characteristic of this genus.

Specimens of F. balatra were collected from grassy vegetation in mountainous regions of Paraná (the Pico Paraná is one of the highest mountains in southern Brazil), suggesting that this species has a high altitude distribution, perhaps including the alpine peaks of the southern Brazilian highlands.

Etymology. Balatra in Latin means clown or a buffoon at medieval courts. The species name refers to the colors of the tegmina and postclypeus, which are evocative of the makeup and the nose of a clown.

Examined material. BRAZIL, Paraná, Pontal do Itararé, Morro dos Perdidos, 1423m, 25º53’27”S 48º57’27”W, 3.II.2010, A. Paladini & P.C. Grossi leg. Holotype: 1 male ( DZUP) Paratypes: 1 male ( MCTP); 2 males ( DZUP); 3 females ( BMNH); 5 females ( MCTP); 3 females ( INPA); 3 females ( MCNZ); 23 females ( DZUP); same data except 4.III.2008, P.C. Grossi leg. 1 female. Paraná, Pico Paraná, 1700m, 22.I.1970, Laroca leg. 1 male ( DZUP).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Ferorhinella balatra sp. nov. 1. Holotype male, dorsal view. 2. Paratype female, dorsal view. 3. Holotype male, lateral view. 4. Paratype female, lateral view. 5. Subgenital plate, lateral view. 6. Paramere, external view. 7. Aedeagus, lateral view. 8. Aedeagus, dorsal view. 9. Female pygofer and valvulae. 10. First valvulae of ovipositor. 11. Second valvulae of ovipositor.