Tomaspisinella (Meretricula)

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 226

Tomaspisinella (Meretricula) subgen.nov.

Type-species: Lepyronia punctatissima Stål, 1862 .

Etymology. Meretricula (feminine), courtesan.

Distribution. Brazil and Ecuador.

Diagnosis. Styles absent or perhaps fused to phallobase.

Description. Frons distinctly inflated; 2–3 anteapical cells and 4–5 apical cells each about as long as wide. Pronotum transversely rugulose. Costal margin of hind wing with 3 small hooks of similar size; outer margin sinuate; apical cells curved upwards near tips, 3rd apical cell twice as wide at tip as at base. Male pygofer, exclusive of subgenital plates, much longer than deep, continuous with subgenital plates separated by small Vshaped notch (except in T. pallidiceps that has unique pygofers and subgenital plates, Fig. 32 A–B); thecal shaft slender beyond globular base, curved cephalad, gonopore on dorsal surface ( Figs 30–32 A–B).

Included species. The type-species and 2 new species, described below.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 35. Neaenini, Menytes (25) and Tomaspisinella (26 – 35): 25 A – B, genital capsule and genitalia of Menytes lathrius, lateral aspect; 25 C, same, tip of theca in caudal aspect; 25 D, subgenital plates, ventral aspect; 26, head and thorax of Tomaspisinella (s. s.) caligata; 27, same, of T. (Ovotomaspis) minuscula; 28 – 35, Tomaspisinella spp., with genital capsule and style (A), aedeagus in lateral aspect (B), tip of aedeagus in caudal aspect (C), subgenital plates in ventral aspect (D): 28, T. (s. s.) parva; 29, T. (s. s.) lucifer; 30, T. (Meretricula) punctatissima; 31, T. (Meretricula) oliveirai; 32, T. (Meretricula) pallidiceps; 33, T. (Ovotomaspis) diabolus sp. nov.; 34, T. (Merinx) jocosa; 35, T. (Merinx) bolivari. Only genital illustrations to scale, with 28 C and 35 at larger scale than others, as indicated by scale lines.