Neaenus Fowler

Andrew Hamilton, K. G., 2016, Neotropical spittlebugs related to Neaenini (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) and the origins of subfamily Cercopinae, Zootaxa 4169 (2), pp. 201-250 : 220

Neaenus Fowler

Type-species: N. varius Fowler, 1897 , hitherto the only included species.

Diagnosis. Male pregenital segment wider than genital segment, with lateral lobes more or less projecting caudad across base of genital capsule ( Figs 46–48 A; Carvalho & Webb 2005, fig. 6).

Description. Antennae ( Figs 20–23 C) similar to those of Microsarganini or with a second, narrower bladeshaped sensillum projecting from base of arista ( Fig. 23 D–F).

Remarks. The original description ( Fowler 1897) mentions only characters that appear “to form a transition between the Cercopinae and the Ptyelinae” [=Aphrophorinae], namely, “eyes nearly round” ( Cercopinae ) and pronotum “gently rounded in front and slightly produced between the eyes” (Aphrophorinae). The lateral margins of the pronotum are no longer than the compound eyes, and may be slightly shorter, as in Aphrophorinae.

Included species. The type-species, illustrated by Lallemand (1912, pl. 4, fig. 8) as “ Tomaspis ephippiata Bredd. ” (a member of Zuata , see Fig. 13 G), and four new species with distinctive male genitalia, described below. Both styles and theca show major differences among the species, and 2 species in this well-defined genus have unique venation, but barcoding and synapomorphies show that they belong to a subgenus rather than to a separate genus. There is an additional unassociated female from Mexico ( Fig. 10 C) that is weakly differentiated by its tegminal pattern and barcodes as yet another separate species, but it is not described here pending discovery of the male.

Distribution. Central America.

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 54. Male genitalia of nominate genus of Neaenini (46 – 49) and nominate subgenus of Microsarganini (50 – 54): 46, Neaenus natrix; 47, N. hystricosus; 48, N. (Neaniskus) gilli; 49, Helioptera gilvum; 50, Microsargane vittata; 51, M. apicata; 52, M. ornatipennis; 53, M. mutans; 54, M. cristata. A, lateral aspect of genital capsule and style; B, same, of theca; C, same in caudal aspect (with detail in Microsargane showing tips of processes in widest aspect); D, ventral aspect of subgenital plates, smaller scale; E, style, dorsal aspect.

FIGURES 20 – 23. Antennal characters of Neaenini: 20, Neaenus varia; 21, N. natrix, showing small peglike supernumerary sensillum; 22 A, N. (Neaniskus) zacki; 23, N. (Neaniskus) gilli: (A) female from type-locality, showing small bladelike sensillum; (B), same, male holotype; (C), same, enlargement of sensory pits; (D), same as 23 A but specimen collected by B. Gill, showing prominent bladelike sensillum; (E – F), same, from other angles.

FIGURES 12 – 13. Zuata Fennah, head of Z. pica (Jacobi) (12) and others in dorsolateral aspect (13): A, Z. scapula sp. nov.; B, Z. zebra sp. nov.; C, Z. segui (Lallemand); D, Z. obrienorum sp. nov.; E, Z. ligatura sp. nov.; F, Z. hysginon sp. nov.; G, Z. ephipiata (Breddin); H, Z. oneraria (Jacobi), male; J, Z. infecta sp. nov.; K, Z. machadoa sp. nov.; L, Z. pictilis sp. nov.

FIGURES 10 – 11. Neaenus Fowler, dorsolateral aspect (10) and female genitalia, ventral aspect (11). 10 A, N. varius Fowler; 10 B, N. hystricosus sp. nov.; 10 C, undescribed female from 15 mi east of El Palmito in Mexico; 10 D, N. natrix sp. nov.; 10 E – F, 11 A, N. (Neaniskus) gilli sp. nov.; 10 G – H, 11 B, N. (Neaniskus) zacki sp. nov..