Aztecus, Gnezdilov & O’Brien, 2008

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M. & O’Brien, Lois B., 2008, New taxa and combinations in Neotropical Issidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea), Insecta Mundi 2008 (31), pp. 1-26 : 5

GENUS Aztecus gen. n.

Type species: Hysteropterum montezuma Kirkaldy 1913 , here designated.

Diagnosis: Metope vertical, flat, slightly elongate, with lateral carinae parallel, strong median carina, and very weak or indistinct sublateral carinae ( Fig. 1 ). Upper margin of metope usually deeply angularly concave. Postclypeus sharply angled in lateral view, with median carina. Coryphe wide and short (4-5 times as wide as long). Pronotum sometimes with carinae. Scutellum sometimes with weak median carina and with distinct lateral carinae. Fore wings weakly elongate, with widely rounded apices, with wide hypocostal plate or without it. Radius and cubitus anterior bifurcate, median bi- or trifurcate (R 2 M 2-3 CuA 2), often with many transverse veins. Hind wings rudimentary. Hind tibiae with 2 lateral teeth. Metatarsomere I with 1-2 intermediate socle setae.

Male (Fig. 13-25). Pygofer with weakly or angularly convex hind margin. Anal tube long. Anal column short. Dorsolateral phallobase lobes fused into long broad dorsal process which is directed forward and downward (Fig. 14, 20). Each lobe with long narrow and bifurcate subapical process. Ventral phallobase lobe relatively long and wide, narrowing apically. Ventral aedeagal hooks long, bifurcate. Apical aedeagal processes wide, with rounded apical projections. Style with concave hind margin, caudodorsal angle rounded. Capitulum on long neck, with subapical projection. Apical tooth pointed, lateral tooth in shape of narrow plate.

Female (based on examination of H. mexicanus ). Hind margin of sternum VII with deep and wide incision. Anal tube elongate, weakly narrowing to truncated apex. Anal column short. Gonoplacs without carinae. Distal parts of posterior connective lamina of gonapophyses IX with a pair of dentate processes. Median field of the lamina convex with fused lobes. Lateral fields of the lamina weakly convex. Anterior connective lamina of gonapophysis VIII with 3 teeth in apical group and 5 teeth (including 4 keeled teeth) in lateral group, comb wide. Endogonocoxal process gradually narrowing apically with subapical lobe. Gonocoxae VIII with concave hind margin. Gonospiculum bridge flattened laterally.

Etymology: The generic name is derived from the ancient Mesoamerican nation - Aztecs. The gender is masculine.

Composition: The genus comprises 6 species known from Mexico.

Comparison: The genus differs from Hysteropterum s. str. and from all American genera of the tribe Issini by the dorsolateral phallobase lobes fused in the shape of a long wide dorsal process directed downward and forward (Fig. 14, 20.) The genus is close to Traxus according to the presence of a bifurcate subapical process on each phallobase lobe and the long neck of the capitulum of the style.

Figures

Figure 1-6. Issidae. 1) Aztecus mexicanus (Kirkaldy), syntype, head in ventral view. 2) Argepara semipellucida (Melichar), syntype, female, lateral view. 3) A. semipellucida (Melichar), syntype, male, head in ventral view. 4) Argepara lyra (Berg), female, lateral view (Argentina). 5) Same, head in ventral view. 6) Same, melanistic form, dorsal view (Paraguay).