Melanastera notia, Serbina & Malenovský & Queiroz & Burckhardt, 2025

Serbina, Liliya Š., Malenovský, Igor, Queiroz, Dalva L. & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2025, Jumping plant-lice of the tribe Paurocephalini (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Liviidae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 5585 (1), pp. 1-164 : 43-45

7 Melanastera notia sp. nov.

( Figs 8G , 14G , 22M–R , 36L )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: 1 ♂, Não-Me-Toque, S28.4666, W52.8027, 510 m, 8.iii.2013, Vernonanthura phosphorica (A.L. Marsaro Jr.) ( UFPR; dry).

Paratypes. Brazil: MINAS GERAIS: 4 ♂, 10 ♀, 18 immatures, 5 skins, São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, Parque Estadual do Rio Preto, Vau das Éguas , S18.0995, W43.3301, 740 m, 15.iv.2021, indet. Asteraceae, Cerrado vegetation on rocky slope (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #407(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008540, NMB-PSYLL0008541, NMB-PSYLL0008542) .— PARANÁ: 1 ♂, Colombo, Embrapa campus, S25.3196 /3353, W49.1562 / 1677, 920 m, 1–5.iv.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #96(5) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0008539) ; 1 ♂, Curitiba, Bosque Zaninelli , S253967 , W 492833, 950 m, 11.ii.2013, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #91(3) ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0007954) ; 1 ♂, Ponta Grossa, Parque Estadual Vila Velha , S25.3146, W49.15197, 810 m, 12.vii.2013, Cerrado vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #541 ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0007958) ; 1 ♂, 1 immature, same but S25.2500, W 500124, 830 m, 9.xii.2012, Moquiniastrum polymorphum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #87(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007953) ; 17 ♂, 12 ♀, 30 immatures, 7 skins, Tibagi, Parque Guartelá , S24.5638, W50.25586, 930 m, 8.xii.2013, Cerrado vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #522 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007551) .— RIO GRANDE DO SUL: 21 ♂, 21 ♀, 7 immatures, Não-Me-Toque, S28.4666, W52.8027, 510 m, 8.iii.2013, Vernonanthura phosphorica (A.L. Marsaro Jr.) ( MMBC, NHMB, UFPR; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007960, NMB-PSYLL0007995, NMB-PSYLL0008012, NMB-PSYLL0008013, NMB-PSYLL0008014 [LSMelver-60], NMB-PSYLL0008015 [LSMelver-60]) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, 6 immatures, Passo Fundo, Embrapa campus, S28.2288, W52.4065, 640 m, 20.ix.2018, Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. ceanothifolium (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #306(8) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007956) ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 2 immatures, same but 27.vi.2016, degraded vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #517 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007957) ; 1 ♀, 1 immature, same but 28.vi.2013, degraded vegetation (D. L. Queiroz) #519 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007959) ; 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Passo Fundo, Reserva Maragato , S28.2333, W52.4501, 640 m, 28.vi.2016 ( A. L. Marsaro Jr.) 02/16PF ( NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0005203, NMB-PSYLL0007994) ; 4 ♂, 10 ♀, Passo Fundo , S28.2288, W52.4061, 670 m, 20.xi.2013 ( A. L. Marsaro Jr.) ( BMNH, MMBC, NHMB; dry, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0003912, NMB-PSYLL0007998) ; 2 ♂, 8 ♀, 5 immatures, same but 4.xii.2013 ( A. L. Marsaro Jr.) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0003902, NMB-PSYLL0003900) ; 2 ♂, 6 ♀, 1 immature, same but 7.iv.2014 ( A. L. Marsaro Jr.) ( MHNG, NHMB; dry; NMB-PSYLL0007997, NMB-PSYLL0003890) ; 4 ♂, 4 ♀, 31 immatures, 8 skins, Santa Tecla, Tupanciretã , RS-377 , S28.8777, W54.1274, 450 m, 19.ix.2018, Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. ceanothifolium (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #305(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007955) .— SÃO PAULO: 1 ♀, Matão, Fazendo Cambuhy , S21.6010, W48.4331, 550 m, 27.viii.2007 ( P. Yamamoto) ( FSCA; 70% ethanol) .

Description. Adult. Coloration. Head ( Fig. 8G ) and clypeus dark brown. Antenna pale yellow, segments 4–9 with dark brown apices, segment 10 entirely dark brown. Thorax brown. Forewing ( Fig. 14G ) with pale yellow veins and clear membrane with distinct brown dots (in females more numerous than in males), spaced over entire wing, becoming denser towards wing apex; apices of veins Rs, M 1+2, M 3+4 and Cu 1a pale brown, apex of vein Cu 1b conspicuously brown. Legs pale brown; metacoxa dark brown with pale yellow meracanthus. Abdomen including terminalia brown. Younger specimens with less expanded dark colour.

Structure. Setae on thorax long. Forewing ( Fig. 14G ) narrowly, evenly rounded apically; C+Sc irregularly convex in median third; pterostigma moderately narrow, slightly narrower than cell r 1, with; Rs almost straight in basal two thirds, weakly curved to costal margin apically; M much longer than M 1+2 and M 3+4; Cu 1a straight in basal two thirds, curved in apical third, ending distal to M fork; surface spinules present in all cells, relatively dense, leaving narrow to broad spinule-free stripes along the veins, forming indistinct hexagons, spinules absent from base of cell c+sc. Hindwing with grouped costal setae as 4 + 4–5. Metatibia bearing 4–7 apical spurs, arranged as 2–3 + 2–4, anteriorly separated by 5–6 bristles.

Terminalia ( Fig. 22M–R ). Male. Proctiger broad, posterior margin convex; densely covered with long setae in apical two thirds. Subgenital plate irregularly ovoid, in lateral view; dorsal margin strongly curved in distal third, posterior margin almost straight; with moderately long setae in apical half. Paramere shorter than proctiger; in lateral view, lamellar, with subparallel margins, narrowing in apical fifth; paramere apex, in lateral view, blunt, directed slightly posteriad, in dorsal view, apex blunt, directed upwards and slightly inwards, lacking sclerotised tooth; outer face with sparse, short setae mostly in apical third; inner face with dense, moderately long setae submedially and short setae in apical half; anterior and posterior margins with longer setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part moderately subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus almost straight in basal half with dorsal margin sinuate; apical dilation, in lateral view, broad, widest in the middle, with a lateral groove on each side forming lateral lobes, unevenly rounded apically; in dorsal view, apical dilation with wing-like lateral lobes, obovate, broadest in apical third, sclerotised end tube short and weakly curved.—Female terminalia cuneate, long; densely covered with setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, almost straight distal to circumanal ring, with a small bulge in the middle, concave subapically, apex pointed, upturned; in dorsal view, apex narrowly rounded; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, distinctly cruciform. Subgenital plate shorter than proctiger; in lateral view, abruptly narrowing towards apex in apical third, apex pointed; in ventral view, apex blunt.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Brownish yellow; antenna gradually becoming darker towards apex; cephalothoracic sclerite, wing pads, legs and caudal plate brown.

Structure. Eye with one long, simple ocular seta dorsally. Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(1), 3(2), 4(0), 5(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(0), 9(0). Forewing pad with 15–19 pointed sectasetae or lanceolate setae marginally and ca. 40 pointed lanceolate setae scattered over entire dorsal surface; hindwing pad with three marginal and one dorsal pointed sectasetae, and several (ca. 10) dorsal lanceolate setae. Metatibiotarsus with 2–3 pointed sectasetae on outer margin; tarsal arolium broadly fan-shaped apically, about 1.2 times as long as claws. Abdomen proximal to caudal plate with a transverse row of densely spaced lanceolate setae on dorsum of each segment, and several (5–6) pointed sectasetae on either side laterally. Caudal plate ( Fig. 36L ) with anterior margin close to anterior margin of extra pore fields; with at least seven pointed sectasetae arranged in two groups (3 + 4 or 4 + 3) on either side laterally, a number of lanceolate setae and few pointed sectasetae scattered over entire surface dorsally, and with 6–7 pointed sectasetae and several lanceolate setae on either side of circumanal ring dorsally. Extra pore fields forming continuous outer and inner bands, consisting of large oval patches; outer band long medially, end pointing outwards. Circumanal ring medially strongly indented anteriorly.

Host plants. Moquiniastrum polymorphum (Less.) G. Sancho , including M. polymorphum subsp. ceanothifolium (Less.) G. Sancho , Vernonanthura phosphorica (Vell.) H.Rob. ( Asteraceae ).

Distribution. Brazil (MG, PR, RS, SP).

Derivation of name. From the Ancient Greek adjective νοτιος = southern, referring to its southern distribution.

The olgae -group

Description. Adult. Head, in lateral view, inclined at 45° or more from longitudinal body axis ( Fig. 7C ). Vertex trapezoidal, with faint to strong imbricate microsculpture and microscopic setae; median suture fully developed ( Figs 8H–J , 9A–C ) except for M. tijuca ( Fig. 9D ) where it is reduced in basal three quarters of vertex. VW/VL 1.6–2.4. AL 0.5–0.9; AL/HW 0.9–1.8. Thorax moderately arched, with microscopic setae. Forewing pale yellow to dark brown, lacking small brown dots; wing apex in cell r 2 near M 1+2 or in the middle of cell margin; pterostigma expanding towards the middle or apical third. Distal segment of aedeagus bearing ventral process.

Immature. Antenna 10-segmented.

Comments. The olgae- group includes seven species in Brazil. In addition, Melanastera granulosi sp. nov. resembles M. macaireae sp. nov. and M. tijuca sp. nov. in the narrow, yellow forewing with light stripes along the veins, but is not placed in the olgae- group due to a lack of male material (see comments under M. granulosi ).

Brown & Hodkinson (1988) figured a species, Haplaphalara sp. A from Panama, which resembles the male of M. variegata sp. nov. It differs from the latter species in having a less extensive forewing pattern and less curved veins Rs and Cu 1a.

Melanastera lucens (Burckhardt, Hanson & Madrigal) from Costa Rica resembles the olgae- group by the absence of dark dots on the forewings. It differs from the Brazilian species by a smaller size, a bright orange body and details of the male and female terminalia ( Burckhardt et al. 2005). See also the comment under duckei -group.

The species of the olgae- group are associated with Annonaceae and Melastomataceae . Its members show great diversity in forewing shape, venation and colour pattern, as well as in the structure of the paramere and aedeagus. The group is probably polyphyletic.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Habitus of adult Paurocephalini. A, Klyveria crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); B, Melanastera moquiniastri sp. nov.; C, M. olgae sp. nov.; D, M. xylopiae sp. nov.; E, M. virolae sp. nov.; F, M. melanocephala sp. nov.; G, M. sellowianae sp. nov.; H, M. smithi (Burckhardt, Morais & Picanço). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Klyveria and Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view.A, K. flaviae sp. nov.; B, K. crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); C, K. setinervis (Burckhardt); D, M. curtisetosa sp. nov.; E, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; F, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; G, M. notia sp. nov.; H, M. olgae sp. nov.; I, M. mazzardoae sp. nov.; J, M. variegata sp. nov.

FIGURE 9. Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view. A, M. parva sp. nov.; B, M. guatteriae sp. nov.; C, M. macaireae sp. nov.; D, M. tijuca sp. nov.; E, M. falcata sp. nov.; F, M. spinosa sp. nov.; G, M. amazonica sp. nov.; H, M. cacantis sp. nov.; I, M. xylopiae sp. nov.; J, M. francisi sp. nov.

FIGURE 14. Klyveria and Melanastera spp., forewing. A, K. flaviae sp. nov.; B, K. crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); C, K. setinervis (Burckhardt); D, M. curtisetosa sp. nov.; E, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; F, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; G, M. notia sp. nov.; H, M. olgae sp. nov.; I, M. mazzardoae sp. nov., ♂; J, M. mazzardoae sp. nov., ♀. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 22. Melanastera eremanthi sp. nov. A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; E, paramere, dorsal view; F, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. moquiniastri sp. nov. G, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; H, paramere, inner face, lateral view; I, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; J, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; K, paramere, dorsal view; L, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. notia sp. nov. M, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; N, paramere, inner face, lateral view; O, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; P, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; Q, paramere, dorsal view; R, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. olgae sp. nov. S, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; T, paramere, inner face, lateral view; U, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; V, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; W, paramere, dorsal view; X, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 36. Melanastera smithi (Burckhardt, Morais & Picanço). A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; E, paramere, dorsal view; F, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. G,—M. granulosi sp. nov., ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—H, M. sebiferae sp. nov., ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—Caudal plate, dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views, of fifth instar immature of Klyveria and Melanastera spp. I, K. classiflagellata (Burckhardt); J, M. moquiniastri sp. nov.; K, M. eremanthi sp. nov.; L, M. notia sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.