Exogonia assimilis ( Signoret, 1853 )

Mauro-Barr, T. T., Carvalho, R. A., Felix, M. & Mejdalani, G., 2009, Taxonomy of the Neotropical leafhopper genus Exogonia with description of seven new Brazilian species (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini), Zootaxa 2046 (1), pp. 43-68 : 58-60

Exogonia assimilis ( Signoret, 1853)

Length: male, 8.3 mm; female, 9.3 mm.

External morphology. Head, in dorsal view, moderately produced anteriorly, anterior margin rounded; crown with median length varying from 1/2 to 2/3 interocular width and from 2/5 to 2/3 transocular width; epicranial, temporal, and frontogenal sutures distinct. Pronotum, in dorsal view, with width approximately equal to transocular width. Forewings with membrane indistinct.

Color. Head, pronotum, and mesonotum dark brown. Pronotum with transverse white or pale yellow stripe, which can be interrupted medially and extends over lateral pronotal lobes. Forewings brown with five white or pale yellow maculae: two on clavus, one on basal portion and other on apical portion; three on corium, one on basal portion, transverse one near claval apex, and transverse one near base of apical cells. Frons with broad pale yellow maculae on median portion. Venter pale brown. Legs varying from reddishbrown to pale red with apex of tibiae and tarsi brown.

Male genitalia. Pygofer, in lateral view, approximately twice as long as subgenital plates; macrosetae on preapical portion, extending anteriorly along ventral margin; median portion with inner ventral elongate process bearing numerous setae; apical portion with numerous small setae. Subgenital plates, in ventral view, markedly broadened basally, narrowing toward apex; setae near outer margin of ventral surface. Styles, in dorsal view, short, extending as far posteriorly as apex of connective; with distinct median lobe on outer margin; portion beyond lobe curved; apex obliquely truncate. Connective, in dorsal view, Y-shaped; stalk broad. Aedeagus, in lateral view, with dorsal margin almost rectilinear; ventral margin slightly directed ventrally; basal portion of shaft, in dorsal view, with pair of lateral projections with apexes rounded; shaft expanded apically. Paraphyses, in dorsal view, with one pair of rami directed anteriorly and other posteriorly; anterior rami narrowing toward apex, posterior ones broadening slightly toward apex and longer than anterior pair; stalk broad, approximately as long as posterior rami. Anal tube (segment X) without processes or areas bearing small setae.

Female genitalia. Sternite VII longer than broad; lateral margins approximately rectilinear; posterior margin concave medially and with pair of spiniform projections beside median concavity; surface longitudinally striate, with few setae on apical portion. Pygofer as in E. flavomaculata . Second valvulae, in lateral view, with rounded apex; preapical prominence indistinct; inconspicuous teeth extending from expanded basal portion to preapical portion, three most basal teeth triangular, followed by rectangular larger ones. Other features of second valvulae as in E. flavomaculata .

Material examined. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina states. One male, “ XI.1980 \ Brasilien \ Nova Teutonia [Corupá Municipality]\ 27° 11’B 52° 23’L\ Fritz Plaumann\ 300-500 m ” ( DZUP); one female , “Resende, E. Rio \ 450 m, I/1957 \ U. Barth col.” ( MNRJ) .