Latissima, Löcker, 2020

Löcker, Birgit, 2020, Revision of the Australian planthopper genus Monomalpha Emeljanov with the description of the new genus Latissima (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Cixiini), Zootaxa 4858 (3), pp. 375-393 : 388-389

Genus Latissima gen. nov.

Zoobank registration: http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E304BB57-C7B7-42CE-A7DB-DC57AE0D8F01

Type species: Latissima isleyensis Löcker , sp. nov.; by present designation and monotypy.

Etymology. The latin term ‘latissima’ means widest. In this genus the widest part of the frons lies ventral of the frontoclypeal suture. Gender: feminine.

Morphology. Head: Vertex divided into apical and subapical compartment by subapical carina; apical carina deeply u-shaped. Frons invisible in dorsal view. Position of maximum width of frons distinctly ventrad of centre of frontoclypeal suture. Median carina of frons complete. Lateral carinae of frons slightly elevated, foliaceous, moderately extending laterally, concealing base of antennae. Median ocellus of frons absent. Rostrum surpassing hind coxae, just reaching hind femura. Subapical segment of rostrum less than twice as long as apical segment.

Thorax: Pronotum with median carina well developed; pronotum about the same length in middle as laterally; submedian carinae running more or less parallel to eyes. Mesonotum with well-developed lateral carinae; median carina well developed near anterior margin, evanescent near posterior margin. Forewings moderately tectiform; surpassing tip of abdomen; widest at around apex of clavus; concavity at costal border absent; no tubercles in cells at apex of wing, only along veins; tubercles in pterostigma scattered; ScP+R+M forming a short common stem distad of basal cell; fork of ScP+RA and RP distinctly basad of fork CuA1 and CuA2; fork of CuA1 and CuA 2 in basal half of forewing; icu, where it inserts at CuP, distinctly distad of apex of clavus; RA apically unforked; MP3+4 unforked or bifid; nodus of y-vein more or less central within clavus. Hind leg: tibia with 6 apical spines (grouped in two groups with a small to medium sized gap in between), outermost spine the largest followed by two shorter spines that appear retracted (forming a second row), innermost three spines on same row as outermost spine, with middle spine of the group of three slightly shorter than the others.

Diagnosis. Latissima is endemic to Australia and can be separated from all other Australian Cixiidae by a combination of the following characters: Position of maximum width of frons distinctly ventrad of centre of frontoclypeal suture ( Fig. 7C ); median carina of frons unforked ( Fig. 7C ); frons without median ocellus; apex of head with two transverse carinae ( Figs 7B, 7D ); apical transverse carina of vertex deeply u-shaped; second hind tarsomere without platellae, but with three or fewer very fine setae ( Fig. 7E ).

Distribution. Qld.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Latissima isleyensis (holotype): A habitus; B–D head and thorax; E hind tibia and tarsi.