Tarehylava gorgona, Gnezdilov, 2024

Gnezdilov, Vladimir M., 2024, A new species of the genus Tarehylava Stroiński, 2021 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) from southern Madagascar, Zootaxa 5468 (2), pp. 393-397 : 394-395

Tarehylava gorgona sp. nov.

( Figs 1–11 )

Etymology. The species named after mythical Medusa Gorgona according to the presence of several pairs of long and curved processes of phallobase.

Diagnosis. It easily differs from T. avymaina Stroiński, 2021 by distinctly shorter coryphe, 0.6 times as long as pronotum at midline (0.7 times in T. avymaina ), with acutely angulate anterior margin (rather convex in T. avymaina ), metope slightly enlarged above clypeus (not enlarged in T. avymaina ), short common stem of radius from the basal cell (twice longer in T. avymaina ), and apparently larger size as male of T. gorgona sp. n. has the same total length as female of T. avymaina .

Description ( Figs 1–3 ). Total length 6.9 mm (from apex of coryphe to the apices of forewings).

Structure. Generally as mentioned for the genus by Stroiński (2021). Metope (frons) nearly twice as long medially as wide between the eyes, slightly enlarged above clypeus, with relief median carina running from below its upper margin to apical part of postclypeus and relief sublateral carinae joint with median carina in shape of small callus and running to above metopoclypeal suture which is deep and convex ( Fig. 3 ). Postclypeus large, flattened dorso-ventrally, with a thick median carina. Pedicel globular. Eyes large. Ocelli present. Metope and coryphe joint at acute angle (in lateral view) ( Fig. 2 ). Coryphe (vertex) triangular, with acutely angulate anterior margin, with relief median carina; posterior margin deeply concave ( Fig. 1 ). Lateral margins of coryphe overhanging pedicel. Pronotum wide and long, 1.7 times as long as coryphe at midline, its anterior margin strongly convex, reaching above the anterior eye level, with relief median carina; posterior margin obtusely angulately concave. Paradiscal fields of pronotum wide behind the eyes. Paranotal lobes of pronortum wide and flat, each with tranverse carina basally. Mesonotum 1.4 times as long as pronotum, with median and lateral carinae. Tegulae large. Forewings wide, not widening apically, with precostal area narrow in its basal 1/4 and wide at the rest, with many transverse veins. Basal cell large, oval. Clavus long, ¾ of wing length, closed, Pcu + A 1 joint A 2 before its apex. Forewing vein sequence: R 2, firstly furcating near to basal cell, multibranched apically; M 2, firstly furcating after wing middle, multibranched apically; CuA 2, firstly furcating after wing middle, multibranched apically. Hind wings well developed (apparently 3-lobed), rather narrow, slightly shorter than forewings, with distinctly concave anterior margin. Hind tibia with two lateral spines distally and seven apical spines. First metatarsomere long, nearly as long as second and third ones together, with two latero-apical and seven intermediate spines arranged at an angle. Second metatarsomere without spines. Hind margin of arolium of pretarsus reaching apices of claws (dorsal view). Dorso-lateral plates of arolium large, elongate.

Coloration. General coloration light brown yellowish, with dark brown to black mottling. Metope with two unclear black bands between sublateral carinae. Each preocular field with a black spot behind pedicel. Pedicel black, with light sensory organs. Postclypeus dark brown laterally in its lower part.Anteclypeus dark brown laterally. Hind wings light brown. Fore and middle femora and tibiae with dense dark brown to black dots. Hind femora and tibiae almost without mottling. Apices of leg spines black. Claws dark brown.

Male terminalia ( Figs 5–11 ). Anal tube wide (dorsal view), with large lateral lobes turned downwards (lateral view); tenth segment large ( Figs 5, 6 ). Anal column (paraproct) nearly as large as tenth segment. Pygofer wide, with rounded lobe below anal tube, hind margins nearly straight (lateral view) ( Fig. 5 ). Connective large, with wide cup. Phallobase (periandrium) massive, with four pairs of narrow and pointed sometimes curved processes, with cellular microsculpture distally, directed backwards, and with deep lateral slits below the processes ( Figs 9–11 ). Dorso-lateral lobes of phallobase fused dorsally and projecting in shape of sac ( Figs 10, 11 ). Ventral lobe of phallobase wide and long, with median concavity ( Fig. 9 ). Aedeagus is almost invisible (apical processes of aedeagus are shaded on the figs 9, 10) outside of phallobase. Style with elongate plate and a comb above capitulum (lateral view) ( Fig. 7 ). Capitulum of style narrow, rounded apically (dorsal view) ( Fig. 8 ).

Type material. Holotype, male, “Museum Paris / Madagascar / Région de l’Androy / Ambovombe / Dr J. Decorse 1901 // fév. & mars / 1901”.

Distribution. Madagascar, Androy Region, Ambovombe District (= Ambovombe-Androy District).

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Tarehylava gorgona sp. nov., holotype. (1) Habitus, dorsal view; (2) same, lateral view; (3) same, frontal view; (4) labels. Scale bar—1 mm.

FIGURES 5–11. Tarehylava gorgona sp. nov., holotype, male terminalia. (5) Pygofer and anal tube, lateral view; (6) anal tube, dorsal view; (7) style, lateral view; (8) capitulum of style, dorsal view; (9) phallic complex, ventral view; 10—phallic complex and connective, lateral view; (11) phallic complex, dorsal view.Abbreviations: s—sac of phallobase; vl—ventral lobe of phallobase. Not to scale.