Gracilipona tetrarama, Domahovski & Gonçalves & Takiya, 2024

Domahovski, Alexandre Cruz, Gonçalves, Clayton Corrêa & Takiya, Daniela Maeda, 2024, A new genus of Gyponini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Iassinae) with description of two new species from Brazil and key to genera of the Hecalapona complex, Zootaxa 5496 (3), pp. 441-450 : 446-447

Gracilipona tetrarama sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 4 , 5C–D )

Diagnosis. Style ( Fig. 3K ) blade with ventral margin expanded at apical two-thirds; dorsal margin rounded near base; apex thin, weakly directed dorsally; aedeagus ( Figs 3L–M ) shaft short with two pairs of processes arising ventrally: one pair as long as shaft and the other pair two times longer than shaft length; female sternite VII ( Fig. 4A ) with posterolateral angles rounded, not produced posterad.

Measurements (mm). Holotype male: total length 8.0. Paratypes: males (n = 6), 7.3–7.8 mm; females (n = 11), 8.0–9.0.

Male terminalia. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 3E ) in ventral view, as wide as long; lateral margins straight and slightly tapering to apex; posterior margin rounded. Valve ( Fig. 3F ) in ventral view, 1.7x wider than long; ventral margin rounded. Pygofer ( Fig. 3G ) in lateral view, 1.8x longer than high, ventral margin broadly rounded; apex subacute. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 3H ), in ventral view, approximately 5.5x longer than wide; lateral margins nearly parallel; apex rounded. Connective ( Fig. 3I ) in dorsal view, with arms slightly longer than stem; stem narrow, with well developed dorsal keel. Style ( Fig. 3J ) in dorsal view, with outer lobe developed; in lateral view ( Fig. 3K ), blade with ventral margin expanded at apical two-thirds; dorsal margin rounded near base; apex thin, acute weakly directed dorsally. Aedeagus ( Figs 3L–M ) shaft short, with two pairs of processes arising ventrally: one pair thin, as long as shaft, parallel and adjacent to shaft, and the other pair wider, two times longer than shaft length, adjacent to shaft at basal third and then abruptly directed posterodorsally; apex of shaft without processes. Other characteristics as in generic description.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII ( Fig. 4A ), in ventral view, 1.4x wider than long; posterolateral margins rounded, not produced posterad; posterior margin weakly rounded. First valvifer ( Fig. 4C ) 1.5x higher than wide. First valvula ( Fig. 4C ) 4x longer than high. Second valvula ( Fig. 4F ) 3.5x longer than high; apical portion ( Fig. 4G ) dorsal margin with approximately ten rounded denticles. Gonoplac ( Fig. 4H ) 3.3x longer than high.

Etymology. The specific epithet tetrarama (noun in apposition), refers to the two pairs of processes in the aedeagus.

Material examined. holotype male: Rio de Janeiro: “P. N. Itatiaia, RJ, Brasil \ 22º 27’16”S 44º36’29”W \ 800-1300m 23/IX/2011 luz \ R. R. Cavichioli leg.” ( DZUP) . Paratypes: Rio de Janeiro: 1 ♀, “ BRASIL: RJ, Itatiaia, Parque \ Nacional do Itatiaia, Casa do \ Pesquisador 2, -22.452500, \ -44.610681, 788 m, light, 12- \ 14.I.2023, AP Pinto, AC Doma- \ hovski, J Ehlert & LP Aguiar leg.” ( DZRJ) ; Minas Gerais: 1 ♂, 2 ♀, “ S. Gonçalo Rio Abaixo, \ MG, Brasil, (Est.Amb / \ Peti-Cemig ) 12.iv.2013 \ Light 19º53’02”S 43º22’ \ 21” W A. Lima; A. F. Kumagai & P. Dias legs.” (1♂, 2♀, DZRJ, 1♀ DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except “ 02.I.2004 \ A. F. Kumagai. col.” ( DZRJ); 1 ♂, “Brasil, MG, Serra do \ Caraça, arm. lum. Luz \ de Queiróz 11.xii.2014 \ A. Capelli; D. Souza; M. Cupello; J.P. Botero leg.” ( DZRJ); Paraná: 1 ♂, “Brasil, Paraná, São José \ dos Pinhais , 25º36’12.65”S \ 49º11’33.58”W 883m \ 10-17.X.2015 Malaise-2 \ A.C. Domahovski leg.” ( DZUP); 1 ♂, “ Brasil, Paraná, São José \ dos Pinhais, 25º36’01.40”S \ 49º11’24.66”W 880m \ 05-12.IX.2015 Malaise-3 \ A.C. Domahovski leg.” ( DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except 19-26.IX.2015 ( DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except 03-10.X.2015 ( DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except 17-24.X.2015 ( DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except 09-16.VII.2016 ( DZUP); 1 ♀, “Brasil, Paraná, São José \ dos Pinhais, 25º35’53.97”S 49º11’22.80”W 880m \ 19-26.IX.2015 Malaise-4 \ A.C. Domahovski leg.” ( DZUP); 1 ♂, same data as preceding, except 31.X-07.XI.2015 ( DZUP); 1 ♂, same data as preceding, except 28.XI-05.XII.2015 ( DZUP); 1 ♀, same data as preceding, except 20-27.II.2016 ( DZUP) ; Rio Grande do Sul: 2 ♀, “Brasil, RS, Passo Fundo \ 28º13’40.23”S \ 52º24’19.97”W \ 17.vi.2011 Malaise \ S. Lampert leg.” ( DZUP) .

Remarks. G. tetrarama sp. nov. is easily distinguished from G. birama sp. nov. in having the aedeagus with two pairs of processes, being the ventral pair 2x longer than the shaft length and female sternite VII with posterolateral angles rounded.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Gracilipona tetrarama sp. nov., holotype male.A, head and thorax, dorsal view. B, head, ventral view. C, head and thorax, lateral view. D, forewing. E–M, male terminalia: E, sternite VIII, ventral view. F, valve, ventral view. G, pygofer, valve, and subgenital plate, lateral view. H, subgenital plate, ventral view. I, connective, dorsal view. J, style, dorsal view. K, style, lateral view. L, aedeagus, lateral view. M, aedeagus, posterior view. Scales in mm.

FIGURE 4. Gracilipona tetrarama sp. nov., paratype female. A, apical portion of abdomen, ventral view. B, apical portion of abdomen, lateral view. C, first valvifer and first valvula, lateral view. D, enlarged view of dorsal sculptured area. E, enlarged view of apical portion of first valvula. F, second valvula, lateral view. G, enlarged view of apical portion of second valvula. G, second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. I, enlarged view of apical portion of gonoplac. Scales in mm.

FIGURE 5. Habitus, dorsal view (left) and lateral view (right). A, B, Gracilipona birama sp. nov., holotype male. C, D, Gracilipona tetrarama sp. nov., holotype male. Scales in mm.