Proxima DeLong & Freytag, 1975

Laranjeira, Vanessa Cristina, Gonçalves, Clayton Corrêa, Domahovski, Alexandre Cruz & Takiya, Daniela Maeda, 2022, Review of Proxima DeLong & Freytag (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Gyponini) with description of two new species from Brazil and identification key to species, Zootaxa 5091 (4), pp. 573-586 : 574-584

Proxima DeLong & Freytag, 1975

( Figs 1–57 )

Proxima DeLong & Freytag, 1975: 111 . Type-species: Proxima ocellata DeLong & Freytag, 1975: 111 .

Diagnosis. Medium-sized leafhoppers ( Figs 52–57 ), elongated, green in life, yellow when preserved. Crown ( Figs 1 , 33 ) distinctly narrower than pronotum; moderately produced anteriorly; surface with longitudinal striae between ocelli. Ocelli ( Figs 1 , 33 ) closest to midline and posterior margin. Transition crown-face ( Figs 14 , 34 ) distinct, thin, but not foliaceous; with up to four transverse carinae. Forewing ( Figs 4 , 16 ) semiopaque, often with extra-numerary veins; apex narrowed; appendix undeveloped. Male pygofer ( Figs 7 , 19 ) without processes. Connective ( Figs 9 , 41 ) Y-shaped. Aedeagus ( Figs 11 , 24 ) with pair of atrial processes; shaft with bifid apex. Female sternite VII ( Figs 26 , 45 ) with posterior margin emarginated medially. First and second valvulae of ovipositor ( Figs 28, 30 , 47, 49 ) with constant height throughout most of their length. First valvulae ( Figs 28 , 47 ) with long ventral interlocking device, reaching the apical fourth. Second valvulae ( Figs 30 , 49 ) dorsal margin with 3–4 prominent and well separated teeth.

Color. Green in life, yellow when preserved ( Figs 52–57 ). Eyes and ocelli red.

External morphology. Head ( Figs 1 , 13 , 33 ) distinctly narrower than pronotum, transocular width approximately three-fourths transhumeral width; moderately produced anteriorly, median length approximately three-fourths interocular width; anterior margin parabolic; crown surface slightly concave near ocelli, texture with longitudinal thin striae between ocelli and oblique striae between each ocellus and compound eye. Ocelli ( Figs 1 , 13 , 33 ) closer to the midline than to compound eye, and closer to posterior margin in relation to anterior margin. Transition crown-face ( Figs 2 , 14 , 34 ) distinct, thin, but not foliaceous; with up to four transverse carinae. Face ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) slightly wider than high. Frons ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ), in lateral view, slightly tumid; in ventral view, height approximately twice the width; texture shagreen; surface slightly concave below anterior margin of the crown. Frontogenal suture ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) distant from eye margin by slightly less than maximum width of clypeus and extending to anterior margin of crown. Antennal ledge ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) carinate, oriented obliquely downward in relation to frons; not extending over frons. Epistomal suture ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) indistinct. Maxillary plates ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) not reaching clypeus apex. Gena ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) with ventrolateral margin slightly excavated below eye. Clypeus ( Figs 3 , 15 , 35 ) approximately 1.3 times longer than wide; lateral margins slightly divergent apically; apical margin rectilinear or slightly excavated, in lateral view, almost flat. Pronotum ( Figs 1 , 13 , 33 ), in dorsal view, with numerous transverse fine striae on disc and posterior third; lateral margins carinated, convergent anterad, longer than length of eye; in lateral view, ( Figs 2 , 14 , 34 ), slightly declivous, continuous with head declivity. Mesonotum ( Figs 1 , 13 , 33 ) slightly wider than long, lateral angles with shagreen texture and other areas rugose; scutellum with thin transverse irregular striae, in lateral view, flat. Forewing ( Figs 4 , 16 , 36 ) semiopaque, approximately 3.5 times longer than wide; venation slightly distinct, often with few extra-numerary veins on apical two-thirds or almost reticulated; apex narrowed; appendix narrow, poorly developed, extending to second apical cell. Profemur elongated, approximately four times longer than high; AD, AM, and PD rows reduced and poorly defined, with exception of apical setae AD 1, AM 1 and PD 1 respectively; AV row with 4−5 setae; PV row with 2−3 setae; IC row formed by slightly arched comb of fine setae, restricted to apical half. Protibia, in cross-section, approximately cylindrical; AD row composed only by undifferentiated setae; AV row with short setae, distal setae only as long as tibia diameter, thin at basal third and thick at apical two-thirds; PD row composed by 4−5 setae and undifferentiated intercalary setae; PV row composed by 6−8 setae and undifferentiated intercalary setae. Metafemur with setal formula 2:2:1 (rarely 2:2:1:1). Metatibia with AD, AV, and PD rows with 12−13, 16−20, and 24−27 macrosetae, respectively; AD row with 2− 3 intercalary setae between macrosetae; PV row with apical half composed of a longer and thicker setae, interspersed with 3−5 thinner and shorter setae, ending with 2−3 short and thin setae at apex. Metatarsomere I ventral surface with two rows of cucullate setae, inner row with 7−10 larger setae and outer row with 5−8 smaller setae; apex with 5−7 platellae; metatarsomere II apex with 3−4 platellae.

Male terminalia. Sternite VIII ( Figs 5 , 17 , 37 ), in ventral view, wider than long; lateral margins parallel. Valve ( Figs 6 , 18 , 38 ), in ventral view, wider than long; anterior margin with thickened integument. Pygofer ( Figs 7 , 19 , 39 ) without processes; macrosetae present and scattered on apical half. Subgenital plate ( Figs 7 , 19 , 39 ), in lateral view, not reaching pygofer apex; in ventral view (figs 8, 21, 40), longer than wide, outer margin with microsetae. Connective ( Figs 9 , 22 , 41 ), in dorsal view, Y-shaped. Style ( Figs 10 , 23 , 42 ), in dorsal view, with developed outer lobe; in lateral view ( Figs 10 , 23 , 42 ), elongated; apex acute, basal portion with microsetae. Aedeagus ( Figs 11 , 24 , 43 ) with pair of atrial processes; shaft with bifid apex, with or without processes.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII ( Figs 26 , 45 ), in ventral view, wider than long; posterior margin excavated medially. Internal sternite VIII membranous. First and second valvulae of ovipositor ( Figs 28, 30 , 47, 49 ), in lateral view, with constant height throughout most of their length and slightly curved dorsally. First valvula ( Figs 28, 29 , 47, 48 ) with dorsal sculptured area strigate and extending to ventral margin at apex. Second valvula ( Figs 31 , 50 ) with 3−4 prominent teeth on dorsal margin. Gonoplac ( Figs 32 , 51 ), in lateral view, with straight dorsoapical margin, short, approximately one-third of the length of gonoplac; ventral margin broad and slightly rounded, with few short setae; outer surface with many integumentary denticles; rounded apex.

Distribution. Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul states).

Taxonomic key to males of Proxima

1 Pygofer with apical portion curved dorsally ( Fig. 7 ). Style with ventral margin conspicuously excavated medially ( Fig. 10 ). Aedeagus with atrial processes bifurcated and shaft with pair of preapical bifid processes ( Figs 11, 12 )........................................................................................ P. ocellata DeLong & Freytag, 1975

- Pygofer with apex straight or folded inward ( Fig. 19 , 39 ). Style with ventral margin not conspicuously excavated ( Figs 23 , 42 ). Aedeagus with atrial processes not bifurcated and shaft without processes ( Figs 24 , 43 ).............................. 2

2(1) Forewing with pair of dark maculae at apical third ( Fig. 16 ). Pygofer with apex folded inwardly ( Figs 19, 20 ). Subgenital plate with inner margin not expanded ( Fig. 21 ). Style with blade slightly sinuous, slender along its entire length ( Fig. 23 ). Aedeagus with atrial processes short, not reaching apex of shaft; shaft wide at the base and narrowing towards apex ( Figs 24, 25 )............................................................................... Proxima nigromaculata sp. nov.

- Forewing without distinct maculae ( Fig. 36 ). Pygofer with apex straight ( Fig. 39 ). Subgenital plate with inner margin strongly expanded ( Fig. 40 ). Style with blade approximately straight, expanded at base and narrowing towards apex ( Fig. 42 ). Aedeagus with atrial processes as long as shaft; shaft long and slender ( Figs 43, 44 )....................... Proxima meloi sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Proxima ocellata DeLong & Freytag, 1975, male. 1, head and thorax, dorsal view. 2, head and thorax, lateral view. 3, head, ventral view. 4, forewing. 5–12, male terminalia: 5, sternite VIII, ventral view. 6, valve, ventral view. 7, pygofer, valve and subgenital plate, lateral view. 8, subgenital plate, ventral view. 9, style and connective, dorsal view. 10, style, lateral view. 11, aedeagus, lateral view. 12, aedeagus, posterior view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 13–25. Proxima nigromaculata sp. nov., male holotype. 13, head and thorax, dorsal view. 14, head and thorax, lateral view. 15, head, ventral view. 16, forewing. 17–25, male terminalia: 17, sternite VIII, ventral view. 18, valve, ventral view. 19, pygofer, valve and subgenital plate, lateral view. 20, pygofer, apical portion. 21, subgenital plate, ventral view. 22, style and connective, dorsal view. 23, style, lateral view. 24, aedeagus, lateral view. 25, aedeagus, posterior view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 26–32. Proxima nigromaculata sp. nov., female paratype. 26, undissected terminalia, ventral view. 27, undissected terminalia, lateral view. 28–32, ovipositor: 28, first valvula and first valvifer, lateral view. 29, first valvula, detail of apical portion. 30, second valvulae, lateral view. 31, second valvulae, detail of apical portion. 32, second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 33–44. Proxima meloi sp. nov., male holotype. 33, head and thorax, dorsal view. 34, head and thorax, lateral view. 35, head, ventral view. 36, forewing. 37–44, male terminalia: 37, sternite VIII, ventral view. 38, valve, ventral view. 39, pygofer, valve and subgenital plate, lateral view. 40, subgenital plate, ventral view. 41, style and connective, dorsal view. 42, style, lateral view. 43, aedeagus, lateral view. 44, aedeagus, posterior view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 45–51. Proxima meloi sp. nov., paratype female. 45, undissected terminalia, ventral view. 46, undissected terminalia, lateral view. 47–51, ovipositor: 47, first valvula and first valvifer, lateral view. 48, first valvula, detail of apical portion. 49, second vavulae, lateral view. 50, second valvulae, detail of apical portion. 51, second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 52–57. Dorsal and lateral habitus, respectively. 52–53, Proxima ocellata, male. 54–55, Proxima nigromaculata sp. nov., male holotype. 56–57, Proxima meloi sp. nov., male holotype.