Gracilipona, 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 : 442-443

Gracilipona gen. nov.

Type-species: Gracilipona tetrarama sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Median-sized and elongate leafhoppers; yellow with apical veins of forewing black ( Fig. 3D, 5B, 5D); head ( Figs 1A, 3A), in dorsal view, with crown strongly-produced; median length almost as long as interocular width; surface texture with inconspicuous irregular striations; ocelli equidistant between median line and eyes, and between anterior and posterior margins of crown; anterior margin of crown projected over anterior margin of eye; in ventral view ( Figs 1B, 3B), antennal ledge extending anteriorly below anterior margin of crown, forming an arched carina that connects the antennal ledges medially; maxillary plate very narrow and not produced ventrally as far as clypeus apex; epistomal suture indistinct; in lateral view ( Figs 1C, 3C), crown-face transition foliaceous, with two transverse carinae; forewing ( Figs 3D, 5) with extra crossveins at apical third; appendix strongly reduced; protibia with dorsal surface flattened but not expanded, with lateral margins carinated; aedeagus ( Figs 1 K−L, 3L−M) without apodemal processes; dorsal apodemes strongly developed and divergent; shaft with lateral processes arising from basal third; valvulae of ovipositor ( Figs 2C, 2F, 4C, 4F) expanded subapically; first valvula ( Figs 2 C−E, 4C−E) with dorsal sculptured area short, mostly strigate, areolate near dorsal margin; second valvula ( Figs 2F, 4F) without dorsal protuberance; dorsal margin with approximately six rounded denticles subapically.

Coloration. Ground color ( Figs 1 A−C, 3A−D, 5) yellow (light green in life) with faint light yellow or orange longitudinal stripes on crown and anterior third of pronotum. Eyes red. Forewing with black veins at apex.

Description. Length 7.1−9.0 mm. Head ( Figs 1A, 3A), in dorsal view, with crown strongly produced, median length almost as long as interocular width, longer medially than near of eyes, anterior margin subacute and projected over anterior margin of eye, surface slightly concave near ocellus, texture with inconspicuous irregular striations, nearly longitudinal between ocelli and oblique between eye and ocellus, transocular width of head 8.5 tenths of humeral width of pronotum; ocelli small, located before imaginary line tangent to anterior margin of eyes, each equidistant between median line and eyes, and between anterior and posterior margins of crown; coronal suture well defined, reaching anterior margin; eye guttiform. Head ( Figs 1C, 3C), in lateral view, with crown-face transition foliaceous, with two transverse carinae. Head ( Figs 1B, 3B), in ventral view, with face flat, slightly higher than wide; frontogenal suture distant from eye margins by maximum width of clypeus and extending to antennal pit, not extending beyond antennal ledge; antennal ledge carinated and strongly elevated, directed obliquely upwards in relation to frons and extending anteriorly below anterior margin of crown, forming an arched carina that connects the antennal ledges medially ( Figs 1B, 3B - arrow); frons narrow, with texture shagreen, muscle impressions weakly distinct; gena wide below eye margin, ventrolateral margin almost straight; maxillary plate very narrow and not produced ventrally as far as clypeus apex; epistomal suture indistinct; clypeus 1.6x longer than wide; lateral margins approximately parallel; apex straight to rounded.

Pronotum ( Figs 1A, 3A), in dorsal view, with transverse striae on disc and posterior third; lateral margins slightly longer than eye length, convergent anterad; in lateral view ( Figs 1C, 3C) moderately declivous, continuous to head slope. Exposed part of mesonotum ( Figs 1A, 3A) wider than long; texture shagreen; scutellum not inflated.

Forewing ( Figs 3D, 5) 3.5x longer than wide; venation distinct; extra crossveins at apical third dividing the subapical and apical cells in irregular number of extra cells; apex rounded; appendix strongly reduced.

Profemur, in frontal view, 3x longer than high; IC row with reduced number of setae (5–8); AV row absent and PV row formed by 2–3 setae; apical setae AD1, AM1, and PD1 present, well developed. Protibia with dorsal surface flattened but not expanded, with lateral margins carinated; AV row formed by long setae, slightly and gradually increasing in thickness and length towards apex, extending to apical fourth; AD with only undifferentiated setae; PD row with 4–5 short setae; PV row with 3–4 setae. Hind leg femoral setal formula 2:2:1; tibial rows PD, AD, and AV with 23–25, 13–14, and 13–15 macrosetae, respectively; AD row without intercalary setae between macrosetae and PV row with setae of apical half approximately equal in length and thickness, except by the apical seta thicker. First tarsomere inner row of plantar surface with 6–7 non-cucullate short setae and median row absent; pecten with 3–4 platellae flanked by two inner and one outer tapered setae; second tarsomere pecten with 3 platellae flanked by two inner and one outer tapered setae.

Male terminalia. Sternite VIII ( Figs 1D, 3E) not covering subgenital plates. Valve ( Figs 1E, 3F) slightly wider than long; integument thickening on anterior margin. Pygofer ( Figs 1F, 3G) without processes; macrosetae dispersed on apical half. Subgenital plate ( Figs 1F, 3G) in lateral view, extending to apical third of pygofer; in ventral view ( Figs 1G, 3H), very narrow and elongated; short filiform setae on outer margin and apical group of long setae on dorsal surface. Connective ( Figs 1H, 3I) short, Y-shaped. Style ( Figs 1J, 3K) elongated; ventral margin serrated and expanded medially; microsetae present on basal half of external surface; apical portion strongly tapered and curved dorsally. Aedeagus ( Figs 1 K−L, 3L−M) without apodemal processes; preatrium reduced; dorsal apodemes strongly developed and divergent; shaft with paired lateral processes arising from basal third.

Female terminalia. Ovipositor ( Figs 2A–B, 4A–B) not extending beyond apex of pygofer. Internal sternite VIII membranous. Pygofer ( Figs 2B, 4B), in lateral view, 2x longer than high; macrosetae distributed on posteroventral quadrant; apex truncated. First valvifer ( Figs 2C, 4C) trapezoid; anterior, dorsal, and posterior margins straight. First valvula ( Figs 2C, 4C) broad, wider subapically; ventral interlocking device short, restricted to basal third; dorsal margin weakly sclerotized and translucent at median third; apical portion tapered; dorsal sculptured area ( Figs 2C–E, 4C–E) short restricted to apical fifth, mostly strigate, areolate near dorsal margin. Second valvula ( Figs 2F, 4F) broad, wider subapically, without dorsal protuberance; dorsal ( Figs 2G, 4G) margin with approximately six rounded denticles subapically; ventroapical margin smooth; apex acute. Second valvifer ( Figs 2H, 4H) 2.8x higher than wide. Gonoplac ( Figs 2H, 4H) dorsoapical margin straight and oblique, one-third of gonoplac length; ventral margin evenly rounded, without prominent setae; outer surface ( Figs 2I, 4I) with many integumentary denticles; rounded apex.

Distribution. Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul).

Etymology. The generic name is feminine and comes from the Latin word “gracilis” meaning “thin”, alluding to the strongly foliaceous anterior margin of the head. The suffix -pona is common in names of other Gyponini genera of the Hecalapona complex.

Remarks. Among the genera that comprise the Hecalapona complex, Gracilipona gen. nov. is more similar to Hirsutapona and Hyperapona , because they have a pygofer generally without processes and the aedeagus with paired basal processes. Gracilipona gen nov. differs from Hirsutapona by the expanded portion of the style in lateral view, while the style of Hirsutapona has an approximately constant height throughout its length, and differs from Hyperapona by not having subgenital plates with the internal margin expanded and overlapping each other, like in Hyperapona . Furthermore, Gracilipona gen. nov. differs from other genera of the Hecalapona complex in having a transverse carina between the antennal ledges, the forewing with extra transverse veins distally and the metatibia AD row without intercalary setae.

Species of Gracilipona gen. nov.

G. birama sp. nov. Brazil: Bahia.

G. tetrarama sp. nov. Brazil: Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, and Rio Grande do Sul.