Pyrophagus Remes Lenicov

Marino De Remes Lenicov, A. M. & Varela, G., 2014, A new genus and species of Delphacini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae) from Argentina, Zootaxa 3861 (2), pp. 177-184 : 178-179

Pyrophagus Remes Lenicov , new genus

Type species. Pyrophagus tigrinus Remes Lenicov & Varela , sp. n.

Description. Blackish, yellow-cream marked delphacids. Vertex as long as wide, lateral margins subparalleled but expanded laterally before and behind eyes, basal compartment twice as wide at hind margin at its greatest length, about 0.4 times length of vertex. Fastigium not or scarcely projected before eyes, evenly rounded to frons in profile. Arms of submedian carina meeting acuminately just anterior to fastigium; submedian frontal carina simple, rather thick at base; frons twice longer than wide, slightly constricted between eyes, lateral margins slightly convex; post- and anteclypeus together slightly shorter than frons, rostrum extending to metacoxa; antennal segments cylindrical, slender, surpassing frontoclypeal suture.

Pronotum at midlength shorter than vertex, lateral carinae distinct, posterolaterally directed, slightly curved, not reaching posterior margin. Disc of mesoscutum 3 times longer than scutellum; mesonotal lateral and median carinae short, subparalleled, becoming obsolete at middle of mesonotum. Tegulae conspicuous. Post-tibial spur slender, narrowing distally, bearing many black-tipped teeth on outer margin (22 in holotype) plus apical tooth. Postbasitarsus as long as post-tarsal segments II and III together, spinal formula of hind leg 5-7-4.

Male genitalia. Pygofer dorsally short, ventrally long, ovate in caudal view, nearly twice higher than its maximum width; dorsolateral margins expanded in subquadrate angle, ventrolateral margins distinctly sinuous in profile; medioventral process strong, subquadrate and protruding dorsocaudally; diaphragma uniformly sclerotized, wider at middle of genital segment, dorsal margin with medial protuberance slightly rounded and caudally protruded. Aedeagus short and tubular, broader and slightly compressed in basal 1/3; in lateral view slightly dorsocaudally directed, ending in strongly bent, laterobasally directed spinose process; phallotreme subapical and elongate. Parameres S-shaped, dorsolaterad directed, tips moderately convergent apically. Connective elongate and slightly sinuate, joined ventrally at base of aedeagus. Suspensorium forming short, rectangular plate, ventrally embracing base of aedeagal shaft. Anal segment short, ringlike, ventro-caudal margin armed with two ventrocaudally directed, basally separated processes.

Female genitalia. Ovipositor short, not surpassing anal segment; valvifers VIII expanded basally to form inner lobe; without visible genital scale; gonapophyses IX slender, dorsally finely denticulated, anal style moderately short.

This new genus includes a single species, P. tigrinus Remes Lenicov & Varela , sp. n., the type species by original designation.

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Greek pyro-, combining pyr, meaning "fire", plus phagus, also from the Greek, referring to feeding. The gender is masculine. This name was chosen in reference to the strong preference of the type species which feed on cultivated gramineous plants in the warm regions of Argentina.

Remarks. Pyrophagus shares a few features with other Neotropical Delphacini . It resembles Euides Fieber, 1866 and Tarophagus Zimmerman, 1948 in the following characters: the pygofer bearing ventral median process; the aedeagus with parallelled sides and ending in spinose process; and the anal segment armed. Pyrophagus can be distinguished from Euides by the vertex comparatively shorter, with the submedian carina meeting acuminately just anterior to the fastigium; carination on frons distinctive and noticeably contrasting in color; the male genitalia with well-developed diaphragm; suspensorium short and the anal segment with the processes basally separated. Females of Pyrophagus resemble those of Tarophagus species in the basal inner projection of valvifer VIII but can be separated from latter by the lack of the distinctive longitudinal pale stripe on the vertex and thorax; the frontal median carina simple and the fastigium rounded and shorter.