Homalodisca spottii Takiya, Cavichioli et McKamey

Takiya, Daniela M., Cavichioli, Rodney R. & Mckamey, Stuart H., 2006, Brazilian sharpshooters of the genus Homalodisca Stål, 1869 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): notes, new records, key to species, first description of the male of H. ignota Melichar, 1924, and a new Northeastern species, Zootaxa 1249, pp. 23-36 : 31-32

Homalodisca spottii Takiya, Cavichioli et McKamey , sp. nov.

Figs 3, 4 , 16–27

Type­locality. Rio Real, Bahia State, Brazil.

Length. males 10.8–11.4 mm; females 12.0–12.3 mm.

Description

External morphology. Crown with median length approximately equal to interocular width and half transocular width; anterior margin rounded in dorsal aspect; transition crown­face slightly angulate and with median longitudinal blunt elevation; disc flattened; median fovea incomplete, becoming broader and shallower anteriorly; pubescence scarce; posterior margin with M­shaped elevation. Frontogenal sutures extending onto crown and attaining ocelli. Ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles; each equidistant from adjacent eye angle and median line of crown. Antennal ledges protuberant in dorsal aspect; dorsally carinate and with anterior margin slightly oblique in lateral view. Frons flattened medially and depressed; median area mostly smooth or slightly striated; muscle impressions distinct; pubescent. Epistomal suture incomplete for short median distance. Clypeus continuing profile of frons; apical margin convex; pubescent. Prothorax with dorsopleural carinae complete. Pronotum narrower than transocular width; lateral margins parallel to slightly divergent anteriorly; median length approximately three­fifths transhumeral width; disc rugose, punctate, and pubescent; posterior margin broadly concave. Mesothorax with katepisternum enlarged and inflated; scutellum not striate. Forewings hyaline, except for small sclerotized area on costal region covering apex of outer discal and base of outer anteapical cells; veins distinct and elevated; anteapical cells closed; with four apical cells, base of third more apical than those of second or fourth; without supernumerary crossveins; claval veins fused at midlength for distance shorter than longest free branch. Hind wings extending almost as far posteriorly as forewings; vein R2+3 incomplete. Hind legs apical femoral setal formula 2:0:0; tibial setal row AD without intercalary macrosetae; tibial setal row AV in females with only five elongate and curved setae apically; first tarsomere slightly shorter or subequal than combined length of two more distal tarsomeres and with two parallel rows of short setae on plantar surface.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Fig. 16 ) short; posterior margin obliquely truncate, slightly concave dorsally and convex ventrally; ventral process poorly developed; microsetae numerous along posterior and ventral margins. Valve ( Fig. 17 ) linear, transverse. Subgenital plates ( Figs 16, 17 ) subtriangular, extending posteriorly almost as far as pygofer apex; microsetae distributed throughout disc; apex narrowly round. Connective ( Fig. 18 ) T­shaped, dorsal keel present. Styles ( Fig. 18 ) elongate, extending posteriorly beyond apex of connective; preapical lobe not strongly developed; apex narrowly round. Aedeagus ( Figs 19, 20 ) symmetrical; preatrium ( Fig. 19 : PA) elongate, articulating basally with connective; atrium with dorsal and ventral pair of elongate spiniform processes directed posterolaterally ( Figs 19, 20 : AP), dorsal pair longer than ventral one; apex of shaft without processes.

Female genitalia. Abdominal sternite VII ( Fig. 21 ) with microsetae distributed throughout disc; posterior margin with broad median concavity. First valvifers ( Fig. 22 ) taller than long; microsetae along posterior margin. First valvulae of ovipositor ( Fig. 21 ) with bases broadly round. Internal abdominal sternite VIII ( Fig. 23 ) well developed and mostly sclerotized. Pygofer ( Fig. 24 ) in lateral view moderately produced; microsetae distributed along posteroventral margin; posterior margin round. Second valvulae of ovipositor ( Fig. 25 ) regularly broadened beyond basal curvature throughout apical threefourths; blade bearing approximately 50 individual teeth; each tooth ( Fig. 26 ) subrectangular with denticles on anterior and posterior margins; preapical ventral prominence present ( Fig. 27 ); apical portion ( Fig. 27 ) with denticles on dorsal and ventral margins; apex ( Fig. 27 ) broadly round.

Coloration. Crown, pronotum, and mesoscutum dark brown, mottled with yellow spots ( Figs 3, 4 ). Face yellow; frons with two pairs of small maculae ventrally and transverse complete or incomplete band over epistomal suture, black. Mesoscutellum yellow. Forewings ( Figs 3, 4 ) hyaline; sclerotized areas and venation purplish red or dark brown (holotype). Thoracic pleura and sterna mostly yellow with several irregular dark brown to black markings. Abdomen yellow with irregular dark brown markings; dorsal median region black; sternites with dark brown median transverse band basally.

Material examined

Holotype: ɗ, “Rio Real, Bahia \ Brasil 19/III/2003 \ Citros \ Miranda, M. P. leg”, DZUP. Paratypes: 3 ɗɗ and 3 ΨΨ, same data as holotype, DZUP; ɗ and Ψ, same data as holotype, USNM; ɗ and Ψ, “Sergipe \ Brasil 14/II/2000 \ Citros \ Miranda, M. P. leg”, DZUP.

Etymology

This species is named after Dr. João R. Spotti Lopes (Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz,” Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil) for his contributions on Brazilian leafhopper ecology, vector biology, and pest management.

Taxonomic notes

Homalodisca spottii sp. nov. appears most closely related to H. lucernaria , sharing with the latter the mottled crown and contrasting yellow mesoscutellum ( Fig. 3 , also present in other South and Central American species) and the broadly rounded concavity of the posterior margin of the female sternite VII ( Fig. 21 ). The new species can be distinguished from H. lucernaria and other species of the genus by the combination of characters mentioned above and by the aedeagus atrium not expanded dorsally (i.e., not forming a lobe between dorsal processes) and having two pairs of straight spiniform atrial processes.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Dorsal and lateral habitus. 1 – 2, Homalodisca ignota Melichar, female lectotype, MMBC. 3 – 4, Homalodisca spottii sp. nov., male holotype, DZUP. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 16 – 27. Homalodisca spottii sp. nov., genital structures. 16 – 20, Male genitalia: (16) pygofer, valve, subgenital plate, style, and anal tube, lateral view; (17) valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; (18) connective and style, dorsal view; (19) aedeagus, lateral view; (20) aedeagus, caudal view. 21 – 27, Female genitalia: (21) sternite VII (setae not illustrated) and bases of first valvulae of ovipositor, ventral view; (22) first valvifer and base of first valvulae of ovipositor, lateral view; (23) sternite VII and internal sternite VIII, dorsal view; (24) sternite VII, pygofer, and gonoplac, lateral view; (25) second valvula of ovipositor, lateral view; (26) tooth of median portion of second valvula of ovipositor, lateral view; (27) apex of second valvula of ovipositor, lateral view. Scale bars in mm. AP = aedeagal atrium processes and PA = aedeagal preatrium.