Tenucephalus cerrado, Zahniser, 2021

Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, Zootaxa 4954 (1), pp. 1-160 : 103

Tenucephalus cerrado n. sp.

( Figs. 62 , 85 )

Diagnosis. T. cerrado can be distinguished from other species of Tenucephalus by a combination of the typical color pattern, male pygofer process slender, relatively straight, and reaching pygofer apex, basal paired processes of connective-aedeagus reaching just beyond midlength of aedeagus, and aedeagus with small preapical tooth on dorsal margin.

Body. Male, 4.3–4.7 mm. Female, 4.8–4.9 mm to wing apex.

Color. With the typical color pattern.

Male. Pygofer relatively long, narrow, gradually attenuating from base to pointed apex; dorsal and ventral margins gently undulate; with numerous (~40 or more) long macrosetae on apical half; with many very short fine setae basally and ventrally; with pair of long dorsal processes originating close to base; apices sharply pointed, darkly pigmented, reaching pygofer apex. Valve width less than 2x median length; only very slightly produced anteriorly. Subgenital plate triangular, with apex rounded; with single row of ~6 macrosetae near lateral margin; with many fine setae laterally. Style preapical lobe not distinct; apophysis thick, claw-like, with tuberculate texture. Connective-aedeagus with symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base narrow, processes sharply pointed at apex, reaching just beyond midlength of aedeagus.Aedeagus narrow, falcate; with small preapical on dorsal margin; gonopore preapical, on ventral side. Phragma bulbous lobes short, spherical; with numerous distinct setae throughout. Segment X sclerotized laterally.

Female. Sternite VII large; width less than 2x median length; laterally with pointed lobes; mesad of lateral lobes, posterior margin sinuate, with distinct narrow median cleft. Sternite VIII with pair of lightly sclerotized elongate plates anteriorly, reaching just beyond anterior margin of stVII.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, BRAZIL, Dist. Federal, Planaltina , 1000m., Cerrado, malaise trap, 6–25-X-1985, S.E. Miller [ DZRJ] . PARATYPES: 4♂, 4♀, same data [ USNM, DZRJ] .

Etymology. The species name is a noun referring to the Cerrado tropical savanna ecoregion where this species is found.

Distribution. T. cerrado is known only from the type locality in the Federal District, Brazil.

Figures

FIGUIRE 62. Tenucephalus cerrado n. sp. (A–B, D–H, J) standard views; A & B, female.

FIGUIRE 85. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. in eastern South America.