Search

The male and female terminalia of the poorly known sharpshooter Macugonalia semiguttata are described and illustrated for the first time based on specimens from a mountainous region in Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil (Atlantic Forest). External characters of the head, thorax, and abdomen of this species are also described and illustrated. Macugonalia semiguttata is compared with other seven similar species of the diverse genus Macugonalia Young, 1977. Among the 28 known species of this genus, it is apparently closely related to Macugonalia dallasi (Signoret, 1853), Macugonalia geographica (Signoret, 1855), and Macugonalia elegantula Cavichioli, 2004. Specimens of M. semiguttata were collected from the leaves and branches of shrubs and small trees in an area of low forest (circa 1,700 m a.s.l.), which is intermediate between the typical Atlantic Forest and the vegetation of alpine fields.

A new Saldidae (MCT 6959-I) from the Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, late Aptian), Santana Group, Araripe Basin (northeastern Brazil) is described and illustrated.Olindasalda gondwanican. gen. n. sp. is the first fossil Saldidae recorded from the Gondwanan supercontinent. The new genus can be distinguished from other members of the subfamily Chiloxanthinae by its small (4.49 mm) and oval-elongated body, absence of spots on the corium of the hemelytron, long R vein, and much-reduced first cell of the membrane. Remarks on the geology of the type locality and a comparison of the new genus with other saldids are provided.UUID:http://zoobank.org/5ef8db72-3d7c-4de0-9a7c-e8fd80a9c8ba

A new species of Hanshumba Young, 1977 is described and illustrated from the Mantiqueira mountain range (southeastern Brazil), municipalities of Wenceslau Braz (state of Minas Gerais) and São Bento do Sapucaí (state of São Paulo). The new taxon is associated with olive orchards and is considered a potential vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterium causes a serious disease known in Brazil as olive leaf desiccation syndrome. Hanshumba mariae sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other five known species of the genus by the following combination of features: (1) apical third of ventral margin of male pygofer with small inner process bearing setae; (2) male abdominal segment X (anal tube) without processes; (3) style with apex narrow, obtuse, not foot-shaped; (4) aedeagus with distinct dorsal lobe along basal two-thirds and with apical portion expanded, bearing dorsal projection; (5) paraphyses with distal pair of rami forceps-like, their basal halves divergent from each other, distal halves approximately parallel, apices acute; (6) female sternite VII with posterior margin shallowly emarginate, bearing slight median lobe; and (7) valvula II of ovipositor with approximately 15 low teeth. Both males and females of the new species are described in detail. A key to the six known species of the genus is provided.

Soosiulus belterrensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Amazon Forest of the state of Pará, northern Brazil. Both the male and female terminalia are treated in detail, in addition to color features. With the addition of this new taxon, the diverse Neotropical genus Soosiulus Young, 1977 now comprises 28 species. The new species is the first one proposed for Soosiulus after the original generic description. It appears to be included in a complex with eleven other Soosiulus species, all of them sharing a very similar color pattern. Among the members of this putative complex, the aedeagus of S. belterrensis sp. nov. is most similar to those of S. hastatus Young, 1977 and S. ruber Young, 1977, due to the presence of a pair of conspicuous dorsoapical processes. However, in S. hastatus and S. ruber the aedeagus has also a retrorse ventroapical process originated from a lobe; both process and lobe are not present in the new species. In addition, the female sternite VII in S. hastatus and S. ruber is convex posteriorly, whereas it has a distinct median emargination in the new species.

Neponymphes godoii Zamboni, 2001 is redescribed and illustrated based on specimens from the Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil (Araripe Basin, Crato Formation; upper Aptian, ~114 Ma). The redescription, based both on the adult and nymphal stages, shows that the external morphological characters of N. godoii were fairly similar to those of recent members of the Belostomatini. Hence, the external morphology in this tribe has apparently not changed much since the Cretaceous.

Two new species of Paratubana Young, 1977 are described and illustrated from Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, based on specimens collected in alpine fields (above 1,800 m) of the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range. Paratubana auromarginata sp. nov. (Pico da Caledônia) can be recognized by the paraphyses with the apex bifurcate, forming an outer subquadrate projection and inner spiniform process, whereas in P. takiyae sp. nov. (Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos) the paraphyses have a pair of strong spiniform processes directed dorsally and crossing each other. The two new species are apparently closely related to each other and both use Eryngium L. (Apiaceae) as host plants. A key to males of the ten known species of the genus is added, as well as two maps of their known distribution.

A new species of the genus Dasmeusa Melichar, 1926 is described and illustrated from specimens collected in the State of Amazonas, Northern Brazil. Dasmeusa imperialis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the five known species of the genus, as well as from those of closely related genera, by the following combination of features: dorsum yellow with orange, preapical transverse irregular stripe on forewing; male pygofer moderately produced posteriorly, with posterior margin broadly rounded; style without preapical lobe, narrow and truncate apically; aedeagus with robust apical process directed ventrally, ventral margin of this process dentate; paraphyses with pair of dorsal dentiform projections on stalk, rami slender and directed posterodorsally; posterior margin of female sternite VII with small quadrate lobe; first ovipositor valvula with dentiform apex; second ovipositor valvula with apical third directed ventrally. This paper includes the first detailed description and illustrations of the female terminalia of a Dasmeusa species. In addition, the known geographic distribution of the genus is presented; D. pauperata (Fabricius, 1803) is newly recorded from the Brazilian states of Roraima, Amazonas, Para, Sergipe, and Bahia; the records from the last two states are interesting because they are from areas of Atlantic Forest. Previously, the genus was known only from the Amazon Forest.

Three new South American leafhopper genera of the tribe Gyponini are proposed: Beltrana gen. nov. based on Beltrana reticulata gen. et sp. nov. from French Guiana, Fulana gen. nov. based on Fulana brasiliensis gen. et sp. nov. from Brazil, and Sicrana gen. nov. based on Sicrana plana gen. et sp. nov. from Brazil and Ecuador. Diagnoses, detailed descriptions, and illustrations are provided for each taxon, as well as comparisons with closely related genera. In addition, the following synonyms are proposed: Freytagana DeLong, 1975 as a junior synonym of Marganana DeLong, 1948 and F. gibsoni DeLong, 1975 as a junior synonym of M. (Marganana) mexicana DeLong & Freytag, 1963. Chilella DeLong & Freytag, 1967 is transferred from Gyponini to Selenomorphini Evans, 1974.

A new species of the diverse Neotropical sharpshooter genus Erythrogonia Melichar, 1926 is described and illustrated from the Mantiqueira mountain range, municipality of Maria da Fé, state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The new taxon is associated with olive orchards and has been implicated as a vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., 1987, which causes a disease known in Brazil as olive leaf scorch syndrome. Erythrogonia sinvali sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other 90 known species of the genus by the following combination of features: (1) crown black without conspicuous contrasting spots; (2) frons with large yellow median spot; (3) pronotum black with large yellow area covering most of disk; (4) forewing dark red, without contrasting spots or stripes, costal margin narrowly black, apical portion dark brown; (5) aedeagus elongate, curved dorsally, with pair of spiniform apical processes; (6) paraphyses greatly reduced; (7) basal portion of male anal tube with pair of spiniform curved processes; (8) posterior margin of female abdominal sternite VII broadly emarginate and with broad central lobe; (9) female sternite VIII with sclerotized areas, including a transverse bar located at bases of ovipositor valvulae I, followed by a pair of elongate sclerites and a posterior bilobed sclerite. Both males and females of the new species are described in detail. A putative group of five species within Erythrogonia is preliminarily proposed, including the new taxon, E. separata Melichar, 1926, E. dorsalis (Signoret, 1853), E. calva (Taschenberg, 1884), and E. melichari Schmidt, 1928. Among these species, the male terminalia of E. sinvali sp. nov. are more similar to those of E. separata.

Scopogonalia is a leafhopper genus with 17 described species, all of them from South America. In this work, a phylogenetic analysis of the genus was conducted based on 59 morphological and colour pattern characters of head, thorax, abdomen, male and female genitalia. Analyses with equal weights resulted in 12 equally most parsimonious trees (length = 137) including a monophyletic Scopogonalia in all of them. An implied weights (k = 15) analysis recovered two trees, one of them equal to the one obtained with a single round successive weighting procedure, which was chosen for discussion. The trees support the existence of three main clades, which are here called Early Green Clade, Late Green Clade, and Yellow-Brown Clade. The origin and diversification of each clade is discussed under available biogeographical knowledge of South America. Little variation was observed in the female genitalia, but their characters were useful to reinforce the monophyly of the Yellow-Brown Clade, which we associate to ecological adaptations. This clade supports a past connection of the Cerrado biome and savannah enclaves in Amazonia and Atlantic Forest. This conclusion highlights the necessity of conserving this open vegetation environment inside the most fragmented portion of the Atlantic Forest, in northeastern Brazil.

Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are phytophagous insects that transmit diseases and cause damage to this crop. Thus, the main goal of this study was to verify the spatiotemporal behavior of the leafhoppers Tapajosa ocellata (Osborn, 1926), Dechacona missionum (Berg, 1879), and Dalbulus maidis (DeLong, 1923) in a corn field in Igarape-Acu, northeastern Para, northern Brazil. An area of 1.0 ha was used for the development of the study. A mango agroecosystem, a pasture, and secondary forest fragment are adjacent to the experimental area. The sampling of leafhoppers occurred during the 2015 and 2016 harvests. For sampling, 10 random plants per plot were analyzed, totaling 1000 plants per sample. In order to verify the occurrence of leafhoppers, all aerial parts of the plants were analyzed visually. The spatiotemporal behavior of leafhoppers and influence of adjacent areas and phenological stages of corn were verified through geostatistics. From the composition of semivariograms, interpolation maps were constructed by kriging. The results showed that, in 2015, there was a higher incidence of D. maidis compared to the following year. In 2016, 352 individuals of T. ocellata and 66 of D. missionum were observed. Regarding the spatial distribution, it was found that the smallest area of influence of T. ocellata, D. missionum, and D. maidis was 0.09, 0.08, and 0.05 ha, respectively. The spatial distribution of leafhoppers showed an aggregate behavior concentrated close to adjacent areas with a predominance of grasses. Population fluctuation demonstrated that the highest incidence of leafhoppers occurs in the vegetative stages of corn.

The sharpshooter genus Balacha Melichar, 1926 has seven recognized species and is distributed in southern South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Here, two new Brazilian species of this genus are described and illustrated, one (B. ancora sp. nov.) from Serra do Caraça and Serra do Cipó (Minas Gerais State) and another (B. nigroflava sp. nov.) from Ponta Grossa (Paraná State) and Passo Fundo (Rio Grande do Sul State). Based on 67 morphological characters, we carried out a parsimony analysis to estimate the phylogenetic position of the two new species. Using implied weighting in TNT, a single topology within Balacha was obtained with k values that varied from 1.599 to 7.412. In this topology, the two new taxa appeared within the clade of black Balacha species. A biogeographical analysis (S-DIVA) suggested that the ancestral area of distribution of Balacha was the Atlantic Forest domain. Balacha species were so far known to have only Eryngium (Apiaceae) species as host plants. Here we report a new host plant for the genus: B. ancora sp. nov. specimens were collected on Actinocephalus polyanthus (Eriocaulaceae). Balacha similis and B. rubripennis are newly recorded from Argentina and specimens of the latter have a very distinct color pattern from the typical Brazilian specimens. Finally, a key to species and maps showing the known distribution of the genus are given (several state records of species are also provided).

Portanus adenomari sp. nov. from the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Maranhão is described and illustrated. It can be easily distinguished by the aedeagus with a pair of apical, slender curved processes, crossing each other medially. The previously unknown females of Portanus restingalis Felix & Mejdalani, 2016 and Metacephalus facetus (Kramer, 1961), as well as the female terminalia of Metacephalus sakakibarai Souza, Takiya & Felix, 2017, are also described in detail. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the ovipositor valvulae of P. restingalis are given. Comparative notes on the morphology of the female terminalia in the tribe Portanini are provided. Specimens of P. restingalis were observed feeding and resting on Bromeliaceae leaves; this is the first record of host plants for the Portanini. Metacephalus marica (Felix & Mejdalani, 2016) is regarded as a junior synonym of Metacephalus longicornis (Osborn, 1923).

The genus Hanshumba Young, 1977 is recorded from Southeastern and Southern Brazil (Atlantic Forest) and currently includes only three species. Here we describe and illustrate, based mainly on features of the male terminalia, two new species from State of Espírito Santo, Municipality of Santa Teresa: H. setifera sp. nov. and H. teresa sp. nov. The former can be distinguished by the male pygofer and anal tube with large processes bearing numerous setae and the aedeagus with pair of dentiform processes on median portion, whereas the latter has three pairs of longitudinal flanges on the aedeagal shaft. A key to males of the genus is added and its taxonomic status is briefly discussed. Keywords: Cicadellinae, Leafhopper, Morphology, Sharpshooter, Taxonomy

A new species of Oragua Melichar, 1926 is described and illustrated from the Atlantic rainforest of Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, based on specimens collected in Casimiro de Abreu (Oragua casimirensis n. sp.). The new species can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by the following combination of features: dorsum dark brown with dispersed yellow dots and spots; male pygofer with well developed dentiform process, directed inwards, on posterodorsal portion; subgenital plates subtriangular and elongate, expanded basally, not extending as far posteriorly as location of dentiform pygofer processes; aedeagus slender and elongate, with pair of apical processes weakly connected to shaft; paraphyses with rami elongate, slightly asymmetrical, approximately parallel to each other. A key to males of the six Oragua species recorded from southeastern Brazil is provided. We propose a group of species within Oragua (linnavuorii group) based on features of the male genitalia of O. flavolineata Mejdalani, Silva & Takiya, 2016, O. linnavuorii Mejdalani, Silva & Takiya, 2016, and O. casimirensis n. sp. http://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:38469659-F0A0-416D-8509-E594EDBA8277

Three new Brazilian species of the sharpshooter genus Amblyscarta Stål, 1869 are described and illustrated: A. elianeae sp. nov. (states of Paraná and Minas Gerais), A. souzalopesi sp. nov. (State of Rio de Janeiro), and A. pinna sp. nov. (State of Mato Grosso). The first two species are from the Atlantic Forest, whereas the third is from the Amazon Forest. Cicada unifasciata Fabricius, 1803 is redescribed and transferred to Amblyscarta based on specimens from Guyana and northern Brazil (Amazon Forest). This Fabrician species is the type of the monobasic genus Strictogonia Melichar, 1926, which is thus considered a junior synonym of Amblyscarta. A diagnosis of Amblyscarta is added, as well as brief notes on the phenology of A. elianeae. This paper provides the first detailed descriptions and illustrations of the female terminalia of Amblyscarta species.

Two new Brazilian sharpshooter species of the genus Tretogonia Melichar, 1926 are described and illustrated: Tretogonia diminuta sp. nov. and T. elegantula sp. nov., both from the State of Paraná. A redescription of T. dentalis Emmrich, 1988 is provided based on a male from the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. This is the first Brazilian record of T. dentalis, a species originally described from Paraguay. Photographs and line drawings are provided for the three species, as well as notes on the taxonomy and biology of the genus.

The genus Aguana Melichar, 1926 previously included only two species from the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. Here we provide a revised diagnosis for the genus and describe two new Brazilian species and the female of A. imbricata (Signoret, 1854). The new taxa are A. picinguaba sp. nov. (states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina) and A. spitzi sp. nov. (State of São Paulo). Aguana species are very similar to one another externally and can be distinguished mainly by features of the male terminalia (especially of the aedeagus) and female sternite VII. A key to males and females of the genus is added (except the female of A. russata Young, 1977).

A second species of the poorly known sharpshooter genus Nannogonalia Young, 1977 is described and illustrated from the Atlantic Forest of south Brazil (state of Parana). Types are deposited in DZUP. Nannogonalia inusitata n. sp. can be distinguished from the type-species (Tettigonia circumcincta Signoret, 1855) mainly by the color pattern and form of the male subgenital plates and female sternite VII. Nannogonalia circumcincta is newly recorded from the state of Parana. The female genitalia of Nannogonalia are described in detail for the first time, based on the type-species and the new species. We discuss some peculiar features of the first and second ovipositor valvulae of this genus that were previously observed in Versigonalia Young, 1977.

Scopogonalia is a genus of small sharpshooters with 11 described species, all known from South America. In the present paper, we describe and illustrate six new species of Scopogonalia: S. amazonensis, S. alba, S. agkistroides, S. dolixoura, S. euxloa and S. osteiphera. We also provide redescriptions of S. subolivacea and S. interruptula, and new geographical records of S. echinura and S. altmanni. All new species are recorded from Brazil, except for S. osteiphera from Argentina. With S. amazonensis, the genus has its geographical distribution increased to Northern Brazil and, with S. alba and one of the new records of S. echinura, to Northeastern Brazil. We provide a new taxonomic key to males of Scopogonalia.

Three new Brazilian sharpshooter species of the genus Geitogonalia Young, 1977 are described: G. buccina sp. nov., G. piei sp. nov., and G. tetracorni sp. nov. The first species is known from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, whereas the second and third species are from the state of Paraná. We provide descriptions of the male and female (except for G. piei), photographs and illustrations, as well as a revised diagnosis of the genus and a key to the five known species.

The South American genus Cardioscarta Melichar, 1932 includes seven species of colorful sharpshooters. Here we describe and illustrate an additional species, C. aurantia sp. nov., from the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil (state of Rio de Janeiro). The new taxon can be distinguished by the dark brown to black forewing with two large orange areas, one from basal portion of corium to distal portions of discal cells and another covering most of clavus, or with single large orange area on basal two-thirds. A key to species of Cardioscarta is provided and the new species is compared with the other ones of the genus.

A new species of the sharpshooter genus Juliaca Melichar, 1926, J. nigra sp. nov., from Southeastern Brazil (State of Espírito Santo) is described based on specimens collected on a coffee plantation. In addition, J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905), an Andean species, and Tettigonia xanthogramma Signoret, 1854, from Southeastern Brazil (states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro), are redescribed. The former species was not adequately illustrated and the latter was not treated in the most recent monograph on the Cicadellini. The identity of T. xanthogramma is elucidated and it is transferred to Juliaca (J. xanthogramma comb. nov.).

Two new species of Polana DeLong, 1942 are described and illustrated, P. (Angusana) pilosa sp. nov. from Peru and P. (Declivella) maculosa sp. nov. from Brazil. Polana (Striapona) desela Delong, 1979 is redescribed; the female terminalia of this species are described and illustrated for the first time.

Seven new species of the economically important sharpshooter genus Acrogonia Stål are described and illustrated: A. falcata sp. nov. (French Guiana and state of Amazonas, Brazil), A. felixi sp. nov. (department of Loreto, Peru), A. quintasi sp. nov. (state of Pará, Brazil), A. distincta sp. nov. (state of Amazonas, Brazil), A. dentata sp. nov. (department of San Martin in Peru, French Guiana, and states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, and Rondônia in Brazil), A. luizi sp. nov. (province of Pastaza in Ecuador and state of Amazonas in Brazil), and A. lobulata sp. nov. (province of Orellana, Ecuador). In addition to the external morphology, color pattern, and male genitalia, detailed descriptions and illustrations of the female genitalia are provided for three of the new species (A. dentata, A. luizi, and A. lobulata). Females of the other four new species are unknown. Acrogonia includes now 39 species, being among the most species-rich genera of the Proconiini.