Xiqilliba sakakibarai, Ale-Rocha, 2017

Ale-Rocha, Rosaly, 2017, Description of a new neotropical species of Xiqilliba Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Neocoelidiinae), Zootaxa 4311 (3), pp. 409-416 : 413-415

Xiqilliba sakakibarai sp. nov.

Figs 13–24 , 27–28

Diagnosis. Pygofer short, approximately quadrangular, with bifurcate apical lobe and microsetae on apex and ventral margin ( Figs 17 – 18 ). Style with strong basal curvature, with thin apex ventrally curved, lateral margins smooth, microsetae only on apical portion ( Figs 20 – 21 ). Aedeagus enlarged, with two pairs of apical long and slender processes ( Figs 22 – 24 ). Anal tube with pair of short processes with rounded apices ( Figs 17 – 18 ).

Measurements (mm). Male holotype: total length 5.86; crown median length 0.48; transocular width 1.36; interocular width 0.68; frons basal width 0.52; frons length 0.96; pronotum median length 0.56; width between humeri 1.60; mesonotum median length 0.92; mesonotum maximum width 1.00; forewing length 4.54; forewing maximum width 1.12.

General color. Pale-yellow with dark-brown markings ( Figs 27 – 28 ). Head in anterior view yellow; frons paleyellow, with median round dark-brown mark at base, and antennal ledges spotted with light-brown; genae, maxillary plates and lora whitish to pale-yellow, lora with apical half dark-brown. Crown whitish; with wide longitudinal median stripe light-brown in central portion and dark-brown more laterad, narrowed, and basally prolonged laterad, broader in apical half. Proepimeron and proepisternum whitish to pale-yellow; pronotum whitish with lateral and posterior margins pale-yellow and wide longitudinal brown stripe medially; pleura and ventral of thorax whitish, spotted with dark-brown; mesonotum yellowish to light-brown with pair of dark-brown marks close to lateral angles and two narrow longitudinal parallel dark-brown stripes extending close to apex. Forewing hyaline, infuscated with brown, with yellowish veins, and large whitish mark at base that extends along costal margin to preapical portion. Hind wing brown with veins of same color. Legs pale-yellow to light-brown with yellow to brown setae.

Description. Structural characters as in generic description, except male genitalia: in lateral view, pygofer short, approximately quadrangular but abruptly narrowed at apical third, with bifurcate apical lobe and microsetae on apex and ventral margin ( Figs 17 – 18 ). Subgenital plates approximately triangular, enlarged basally, narrowing towards apex; fused in basal half, with central cleft, reaching median third; apices acutely rounded, microsetae on outer margins from apical third and at apex; plates longer than pygofer and approximately twice longer than basal width ( Fig.19 ). Style extremely long and slender, with strong basal curvature, with thin apex ventrally curved, and lateral margins smooth, microsetae only in apical portion ( Figs 20 – 21 ). Connective Y-shaped, approximately one fourth length of style, stalk enlarged and articulated to base of aedeagus ( Fig. 21 ). Aedeagus, in lateral view, enlarged, except at apex; base with long and thick apodeme; shaft approximately straight, with dorsal curvature only in median and apical fourths; ventral margin flat, without teeth; apex rounded, with two pairs of long and slender apical processes, inner one thin with pointed apex, outer one thickened, apical half thicker than basal half, with inner margin medially serrate, apex rounded, gonopore apical ( Figs 22 – 24 ). Anal tube with pair of short processes not crossing inside genital capsule, with rounded apices ( Figs 17 – 18 ). Female unknown.

Geographical distribution. Ecuador (unknown locality).

Specimens examined. Male holotype ( NMNH), with following labels: “intercepted at Miami , Florida, from Ecuador, 17 September 1997, on Limonium sp.”

Holotype condition. Right antenna missing; left with apical half of flagellum missing. Thorax ventrally glued to entomological triangle. Fore legs in perfect state, but glued to entomological triangle; median legs, hind legs and wings in perfect state of conservation, wings with apices bent inside. Abdomen dissected.

Etymology. The species name is a tribute to the great researcher and senior professor Dr. Albino Morimasa Sakakibara, due to his contributions to the knowledge of neotropical Auchenorrhyncha, especially Membracidae , and also for contributing for the professional formation of many Brazilian hemipterologists.

Notes. Xiqilliba sakakibarai sp. nov. is similar to Xiqilliba bellator Kramer regarding the color pattern of the crown, pronotum, mesonotum, and forewings ( Figs 13–16 , 27–28 ), and also by the shape and length of the subgenital plates ( Fig. 19 ) and connective ( Fig. 21 ). It differs mainly by the shape of the pygofer and anal tube processes ( Figs 17 – 18 ); the presence of strong curvature at the base of the style ( Figs 20 – 21 ); and by the shape and processes of the aedeagus ( Figs 22 – 24 ).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 24. Xiqilliba sakakibarai sp. nov., male holotype: 13, head, pronotum and mesonotum, dorsal view; 14, head, frontal view; 15, head, pronotum and mesonotum, lateral view; 16, forewing; 17, pygofer and anal tube, lateral view; 18, pygofer and anal tube, ventral view; 19, subgenital plates, ventral view; 20, style, lateral view; 21, connective and style, dorsal view; 22, aedeagus, lateral view; 23, apex of aedeagus, dorsal view; 24, apex of aedeagus, ventral view.

FIGURES 25 – 28. Male holotype, dorsal and lateral view: 25 – 26, Xiqilliba bellator; 27 – 28, Xiqilliba sakakibarai sp. nov. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.