Nivcentia pinicolus ( Osborn, 1926 ) Hendrix & Bartlett, 2024

Hendrix, Solomon V. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2024, Redescription and revised genus placement of Oliarus pinicolus Osborn, 1926, with notes on Antillean Pentastirini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae), Zootaxa 5405 (2), pp. 209-226 : 213-220

Nivcentia pinicolus ( Osborn, 1926) , comb. nov.

( Figs. 1–5 )

= Oliarus pinicolus Osborn, 1926: 355 (original description).

= Melanoliarus pinicolus ( Osborn, 1926) ; comb. by implication Emeljanov 2001: 122.

Type locality. Herradura , Cuba .

Diagnosis. Relatively small reddish-brown pentastirine cixiid with a uniform brown face (bearing two small dark spots on mediolateral margin, close to the ocelli). Forewings clear (in males) with veins bearing prominent setose granulations (females with wings variably marked in clavus, along nodal line, and irregular apical spots). Pygofer in ventral view broad, medioventral lobe ovate with apex rounded, lateral margins scalloped, just over half length of lateral processes; lateral processes angled outwards in ventral view, apices rounded. Periandrium with four elongated processes; sinistral process (in ventral view), shortest, directed sharply right; ventral mediobasal process long and slender, curved right, then left; dextral process long and slender, curved left; dorsal mediobasal process long and slender, leaning to left (from dorsal view). Aedeagal endosoma with two subapical processes and one apical process. Anal tube without ventroapical process.

Description. Color. Body generally brownish-red with paler carinae ( Fig. 1 ). Head and face uniform reddish-brown with pale yellow carinae. Face ( Fig. 1C ) with two small black spots on mediolateral margins of frons (close to lateral ocelli). Postclypeus and anteclypeus uniformly colored and unmarked. Wings transparent, with prominent setal bases; males with forewings unmarked except darkened at pterostigma and claval apex; females ( Fig. 5 ) with variably developed markings from wing base along claval fold, along nodal line and irregular spots subapically, particularly along veins. Legs uniform light brown, paler distally. Venter of terminalia pale yellow.

Structure. Body slightly compressed, length (including wings), males: 5.22 mm (range 5.13–5.30, n=2), females: 5.55 mm.

Head. Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 1D ) narrower than pronotum, weakly projected ahead of eyes; in lateral view ( Fig. 1B ), head compressed and apically rounded with weak inflections at apex of vertex and in front of eye (corresponding with lateral extremes of transverse carinae). In dorsal view, vertex elongate and nearly parallelsided, widest posteriorly, narrowing slightly to anterior margin (median carina not evident); posterior margin triangularly incised, anterior margin concave, forming slight point at fastigium; vertex approximately twice as long as wide (at posterior margin); subapical carinae (of Löcker et al. 2006) meeting near anterior margin of head (defining two lateral, roughly triangular, areolets) with pair of closely appressed carinae extending anteriorly across fastigium, fusing with median carina of frons to form a vase-shaped apical areolet that joins with dorsal areolet of frons (formed by the bifurcate median carina of frons) to bisect the transverse apical carina. In frontal view ( Fig. 1C ), face narrowly rhomboid, frons narrowest at dorsal margin, expanding ventrad to lower level of antennae before constricting to epistomal suture (widest just above the frontoclypeal suture), median carina distinct, forked dorsad to form median areolet. Frontoclypeal suture strongly arched. Clypeus elongately rhomboid. Median ocellus distinct, lateral ocelli prominent below anterior margin of eye ( Fig. 1B ). Eyes elongate oval with small emargination above antennae. Antennae short, stout; scape ringlike, pedicle cylindrical, about as high as wide, bearing numerous sensory pits, flagellum bristlelike with bulbous base.

Thorax. Pronotum very short and tricarinate ( Fig. 1D ); anterior margin convex, following contours of head; posterior margin broadly triangularly incised; lateral carinae arced laterad to paradiscal region. Mesonotum at midline about 1.6x length of head and pronotum combined, pentacarinate, lateral carinae diverging posteriorly, reaching posterior margin; intermediate sinuate; median carina obsolete at scutellum. Tegulae conspicuous. Hind leg with about three lateral teeth (two larger, one or more smaller), spinulation 6(5+1)-7-7, tarsal spinulation in uniform arched row (lateral spines somewhat larger). Wings ( Fig. 1A ) held broadly tectiform. Forewing ( Fig. 4 ) with distinct pterostigma, clavus projected beyond midlength with fusion of Pcu+A1 before claval midlength, fork of CuA proximad of fork of RP from ScP+RA (Cell C5 longer than cell C1); vein branching pattern: RA 3-branched (including vein at margin of stigma), RP 2-branched; MP 5-branched, CuA 2-branched.

Terminalia. Male terminalia ( Figs. 2 , 3 ) with broad pygofer; bilaterally symmetrical; medioventral process ( Figs. 2D , 3A ) much taller than broad, ovate with apex rounded, lateral margins scalloped, just over half length of lateral processes; lateral processes angled outwards in ventral view, apices rounded, broadest at base. Gonostyli ( Fig. 3E ) exceeding pygofer, expanded distally into subovate lobe (anterior portion hook-like, projected basad). Periandrium narrow with four slender processes; in ventral view sinistral process somewhat short, directed sharply right, pointed ( Fig. 2A , Sp); medioventral process ( Fig. 2A , Mvp) long and slender, directed caudad, curved left than right in loop-like shape at distal third; dextral process ( Fig. 2A , Dp) long and slender, curved left near apex; in dorsal view, periandrium bearing long slender mediodorsal process ( Figs. 2A, 2C , Mdp), directed slightly left. Aedeagus (in ventral view) bearing bulbous, left angled endosoma, bearing three processes; an arcuate subapical process ( Fig. 2A , EsV) on inner margin superimposed on structure of endosoma leftwards from aedeagal joint (sensu Mead and Kramer 1982); and bearing elongate apical process ( Fig 2A , EsA) directed cephalad-right, causing the appearance of an almost complete loop of the endophallus; in dorsal view bearing broad and looping semi-hyaline subapical process ( Figs. 2A. 2C , EsD). Anal tube ( Figs. 3D, 3F ) broad and ovate, slightly concave at apex in dorsal view.

Plant associations. Osborn (1926: 355) noted that the syntype series was “collected in the clusters of pine needles on the Cuban Pine,” presumably Pinus cubensis Griseb. A female from Viñales ( Fig. 5 ) was labeled from Pinus tropicalis Morelet (tropical pine).

Distribution. Cuba (all recorded specimens from western Cuba – Herradura and Viñales).

Etymology. The specific name is apparently derived from Pinus (Latin for pine, the genus of pine), combined with -cola (from Latin, dweller, inhabitant). We regard the specific epithet as a Latin noun, and as such the termination does not change. Also, in cases where a name might be regarded as an adjective or a noun, the Code specifies that it should be treated as a noun (article 31.2.2, ICZN 1999).

Material examined. Lectotype (here designated, Fig. 1 ) male “Herrad / ura Cuba / 3 16 25 // Herbert / Osborn / Collection // OSUC 0179206 ” ( OSUC); 10 male syntypes, same data as lectotype ( OSUC). Female specimen ( Fig. 5 ) “E.E.A. de / Cuba, No. / 9342 // Viñales, Cuba / April 15/30, / S.C. Bruner, / Collector. // On trunks of / Pinus tropic / alis Morie // Oliarus ♀ / pinicolus / Osborn / det. / F.W. Mead 1967 // UDCC _ TCN 00101472 ” ( NCSU).

Remarks. Here, we place Oliarus pinicolus Osborn, 1926 in the genus Nivcentia as Nivcentia pinicolus , comb. nov. based on the general form of the male terminalia, especially based on the form of the three long processes of the ventral periandrium. While N. pinicolus , comb. nov. differs slightly from Nivcentia s.s. (viz. N. interrupta and N. christopheri ) in the form of the aedeagus, it is clearly within the genus concept. The composition of Nivcentia and the relationship between its species require further investigation. Further sampling of Pentastirini in the Greater and Lesser Antilles is needed to better understand the generic limits of the tribe in the region.

We are designating a lectotype (see material examined) to ensure the stability of the species concept of Nivcentia pinicolus , comb. nov. as specified here.

The recorded species of Pentastirini from Cuba ( Fig. 13 ) are Nivcentia pinicolus , comb. nov. ( Figs. 1–5 ), Melanoliarus complectus ( Ball, 1902) ( Fig. 8 ), M. slossoni ( Van Duzee, 1912) ( Fig. 10 ), and Cyclopoliarus atkinsae ( Myers, 1928) ( Fig. 6 ), with M. franciscanus ( Stål, 1859) reported in error ( Mead & Kramer, 1982). Nivcentia pinicolus , comb. nov. can be readily diagnosed from each of these species; the small size, reddish-brown coloration, and dark tubercles on the wing veins appear to be diagnostic among the Cuban pentsastirine fauna. Nivcentia pinicolus , comb. nov. lacks the ventroapical projection of the anal tube characteristic of Melanoliarus s.s. (e.g., Myrie et al., 2023, fig. 6A, viz. M. complectus ) and is much smaller (under 6 mm) than Cyclopoliarus (over 7 mm) and M. slossoni (6.1–7.4 mm in Mead & Kramer, 1982).

Nivcentia pinicolus also exhibits sexual dimorphism with female specimens apparently being much more boldly marked. A female specimen examined from Viñales, Cuba ( Fig. 5 ) has very bold lateral markings and a transverse band at the lower third of the forewings.

Three additional specimens from the syntype series of Oliarus pinicolus Osborn were located in the collection at the United States National Museum at the Smithsonian Institution ( USNM), one with a red label stating “Type” and the other two specimens with red “ Paratype ” labels. These specimens were not examined in this study leaving their sexes undetermined. Since the lectotype designation was not published, the specimen labelled “Type” is considered a paralectotype along with the other syntype specimens labelled “ Paratype ” at OSUC and USNM.

Other material examined.

Cyclopoliarus atkinsae ( Myers, 1928) . Holotype (male) ( Fig. 6 ). “Soledad, Cuba / 10 III 1925 [not 10 II 1925 as stated by Myers 1928]/ J.G. Myers 619 // [illegible] // Type / 15971 // Oliarus / atkinsae Myers / HOLOTYPE // MCZ-ENT / 00015971 (MCZC).

Cyclopoliarus biperforatus ( Fennah, 1945b) . Holotype (male) ( Fig. 7 ). “ Trinidad / Verdant Vale / dune 1936 // on Cocoa / Fennah // Type No / 56777 / USNM // Oliarus biperforatus Fennah / Type ♂ Coll. R.G.F. on cacao / Verdant Vale, Trinidad BWI / June 1936 / Allotype ♀ // UDCC _ TCN 00102253 ” ( USNM). Other material examined. Allotype (female). “ Trinidad / Verdant Vale / June 1936 // on Cocoa / Fennah // UDCC _ TCN 00102254 ” ( USNM) .

Melanoliarus complectus ( Ball, 1902) ( Fig. 8 ). Allolectotype (male) “Pt. au Pr./ Hayti feb // TYPE //ALLOTYPE / O / complectus / E.D. Ball // Cotype No / U.S. N.M. // Property / USNM // OLIARUS COMPLECTUS / BALL / DET. F.W. MEAD 1982 // ‘ALLOTYPE’ / ALLOLECTOTYPE / Oliarus / complectus / Ball // UDCC _ TCN 00101648 ” ( USNM). Other material examined. Cerro Maravillas , / Villalba, P.R. / November 3, 1952 // J.A. Ramos / Collector // Melanoliarus / complectus // NCSU _ ENT 00291277 (1 male, NCSU); Kenscoff / Haiti / VI-23-1938 / J.A. Ramos / Collector // NCSU _ ENT 00291278 (1 male, NSCU); “Vieques Id / X-23-47 / JSCaldwell / UDCC _ TCN 00101478 ” (1 male, USNM).

Melanoliarus viequensis ( Caldwell, 1951) ( Fig. 9 ). Holotype (male) “ Vieques, PR / 10-23-47 // Oliarus / Holotype / viequensis // JSCaldwell / Collection / 1959 // Oliarus ♂ / viequensis / det 1949 Holotype / JSCaldwell // UDCC_ TCN 00102479 ” (1 male, USNM).

Melanoliarus slossoni ( Van Duzee, 1912) ( Fig. 10 ). Holotype (male) “BISC BAY, FLA. // TYPE // Collection of / Mrs. A. T. Slosson / Ac. 26226 // Oliarus / hyalinus / Det. VD Vand. // Oliarus / slossoni / Det. VD Vand // Oliarus / hyalinus / det. V.D. // HOLOTYPE / OLIARUS / SLOSSONI / VAN DUZEE” ( AMNH) . Other material examined. “ BRITISH VIRGIN / ISLANDS, Guana / 3-X-1994 W. Lu // Oliarus / slossonae V. Duzee / Det: CRBartlett ‘99” (1 male, UDCC) .

Nivcentia hewanorrae (Fennah, 1945) ( Fig 11 ). “ St. Lucia, ca. 1200’ / Petite Monier Radio / Sta., east side, Aug. 7 / 1986, CW & LB O’Brien // Vincentia / hewanorrae / Fennah / det. L.B. O’Brien ” (1 male, 1 female, UDCC) .

Nivcentia cf. grenadana (Fennah, 1945) ( Fig 12 ). “42 // Balthazar / (Windward Side) / Grenada, W.I. / H.H. Smith // Vincentia / interrupta / Uhler // UDCC_ TCN 00102487 ” (1 female, USNM).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Oliarus pinicolus Osborn, 1926 (male; A, B, D, E lectotype, C paralectotype); A) habitus, dorsal view; B), same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax; E) labels.

FIGURE 2. Aedeagal complex of Oliarus pinicolus; A) aedeagal complex (ventral), annotated B) aedeagal complex, ventral view; C) same, dorsal view; D) ventral view of external male terminalia before dissection; E) aedeagal complex (left lateral); F) aedeagal complex (right lateral); annotations: Dp = dextral process of ventral periandrium, Es = endosoma, EsA = apical process of endosoma, EsD = dorsal subapical process of endosoma, EsV = ventral subapical process of endosoma, Mdp = mediodorsal process of periandrium, Mvp = medioventral process of periandrium, Sp = sinistral process of ventral periandrium.

FIGURE 3. Oliarus pinicolus terminalia (in glycerin); A) male terminalia before disarticulation; B) aedeagal complex, ventral view; C) same, dorsal view; D) anal tube, right lateral view; E) left gonostyle; F) anal tube, dorsal view; G) aedeagal complex, left lateral view; H) same, right lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Forewing venation of Oliarus pinicolus; black text – veins, italics – crossveins, green text – cells, abbreviations following Bourgoin et al. (2015).

FIGURE 5. Nivcentia pinicolus (female); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 6. Oliarus atkinsae Myers, 1928 (holotype, male); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) head and thorax, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) habitus, ventral view; E) labels. Images courtesy of Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, ©President and Fellows of Harvard College.

FIGURE 7. Oliarus biperforatus Fennah, 1945 (holotype, male); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 8. Oliarus complectus Ball, 1902 (allolectotype, male); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 9. Oliarus viequensis Caldwell, 1951 (holotype, male); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 10. Oliarus slossoni Van Duzee, 1912 (holotype, male); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 11. Nivcentia hewanorrae (Fennah, 1945) (male); A) habitus view, dorsal; B) same, lateral; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 12. Nivcentia cf. grenadana (Fennah, 1945) (female); A) habitus, dorsal view; B) same, lateral view; C) head, frontal view; D) head and thorax, dorsal view; E) labels.

FIGURE 13. Distribution of Pentastirini species in Cuba (red star – Nivcentia pinicolus, type locality; red circle – Nivcentia pinicolus, other localities; blue star – Cyclopoliarus atkinsae, type locality; yellow circle – Melanoliarus complectus, reported in Hidalgo-Gato et al. (2021) and observed by authors from specimens; purple circle – Melanoliarus slossoni reported in Mead & Kramer (1982)).