Lacertina australis Remes Lenicov & Rossi Batiz

Rossi, María F., De, Ana M. M. & Lenicov, Remes, 2011, A new genus and species of Saccharosydnini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae) from Argentina, Zootaxa 3118, pp. 62-68 : 64-67

Lacertina australis Remes Lenicov & Rossi Batiz , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–5 )

Holotype male. Uniformly light green -turning yellow when dry or preserved in alcohol; antennae with an anterodorsally longitudinal dark stripe on basal segments; spur teeth and claws of hind legs, apical portions of parameres and anal tube, dark brown; eyes and ocelli yellowish.

Body slender and elongate. L.: 3.90 mm; B.L.: 2.65 mm. B.W.: 0.77 mm; t.l.: 2.90 mm.

Head ( Fig. 1 a–c) with eyes narrower than pronotum, slightly pointed in profile; vertex in middle line 2X longer than width at base, lateral margins subparallel, apical third regularly narrowed towards transition to frons, fastigium produced beyond eyes more than 2/3 of its length; submedian carinae subparallel on apical half, meeting together on apical margin and basally joined to arms of Y-shaped carina; basal compartment slightly concave as wide at base as maximum length and occupying approximately basal half; lateral carinae continuing along frons. Frons 3X longer than width at apex in anterior view, sides nearly straight, slightly constricted between eyes; with 2 percurrent, median frontal carinae which are close to each other on apical 2/3 and obscure and diverging on basal 1/3 delimiting a swollen interfrons. Clypeus longer than wide at base; clypeus plus labrum half length of frons. Rostrum attaining middle coxae; subapical segment longer than apical segment. Compound eyes elongate in lateral view. Antennae with scape and pedicel subcylindrical, slightly widened at apex; 1st segment about as long as broad; 2nd segment length twice its width and 3 times the 1st segment; number and arrangement of sensory fields of pedicel: 5–7 in groups of 3 rows.

Pronotum relatively wide, about 3X as wide as long, in middle line half the length of mesonotum, tricarinate, lateral carinae attaining hind margin which is medially excavated; lateral edges markedly expanded and slightly elevated at level of tegulae. Mesonotum narrow, slightly longer than broad, tricarinate; lateral carinae attaining hind margin; median carinae obscure on slightly depressed scutellum ( Fig. 1 a).

Wings ( Fig. 2 ) slender with rounded apex, about 5 times longer than maximum width. Tegmina hyaline, membrane with microtrichiae, veins light green. Venation similar to Saccharosydne species; extra Cu1 branch present on hind wings in some specimens.

Legs ( Fig. 3 ) with posttibiae longer than postfemur, with 2 spines on outer margin and 7 (2+5) at apex. Posttibial spur leaf-like, with longitudinal submedian rib, half length of posttarsomere I; spur bearing 14–20 teeth (including apical tooth) on hind margin. Posttarsomere I almost 2X longer than posttarsomeres II + III, with 8 (2+6) apical spines; posttarsomere II with four apical spines.

Abdomen with 11 distinguishable segments.

Male drumming organ: 2nd abdominal tergite of male drumming organ with distinctly sclerotized, separated central plate.

Genitalia ( Fig. 4 a,b). Pygofer subcylindrical; dorsally with deeply concave anal emargination, reduced to narrow rim attached to basal margin of tenth segment; with produced dorsolateral angles in lateral view; ventral side much longer than dorsal; without medioventral process; diaphragm with dorsal margin V-shaped and ventrally concave. Genital “chamber” elongate, forming a dorsocaudally directed strut, connected with phallobase by two small lateral projections. Phallobase closely connected with anal segment by short saddle-shape suspensorium, and continued with well developed aedeagus. Aedeagus consisting of a short curved spine, basally projected as an elongate, slightly sclerotized elastic tube, coiled into pygofer, reaching 7th abdominal segment; phallotreme apical. Parameres elongate, distally diverging, dorsocaudally directed; in posterior view, narrow and closely approximate at base, inner margin slightly sinuate, outer margin deeply excavated near apex, apex obliquely truncate, with rounded internal and acute external angles; basally interconnected by V-shaped transverse strut. Connective 1.5 times as long as “chamber”, Y-shaped at base, broadly fused to subapical basal portion of “chamber”. Anal segment (10th segment) collar-like; 11th segment ventrally incomplete, anal tube elongate.

Measurements (n = 10). L.: 3.90 (3.70–4.10); B.L.: 2.65 (2.50–2.80); B.W.: 0.77 (0.70–0.85); t.l.: 2.90 (2.60– 3.20).

Female. Coloration and external appearance similar to the male. L.: 4.55 mm; B.L.: 3.20 mm.

Genitalia ( Fig. 5 a,b). Ovipositor slender; valvulae I (or ventral valvulae) attaining anal segment in ventral view; valvulae II (median valvulae) in apical 3/4 with 18–20 rounded dorsal teeth, the proximal ones larger; valvulae III (dorsal valvulae) with microtrichiae, slightly surpassing pygofer and anal segment. Valvifers VIII slender, as long as half of dorsal valvulae. Anal segment (10th segment) collar-like, 11th segment ventrally incomplete; anal tube elongate.

Measurements (n = 10). L.: 4.55 (4.00–5.10); B.L.: 3.20 (2.90–3.50); B.W.: 0.92 (0.80–1.00); t.l.: 3.32 (3.10– 3.55).

Etymology. The specific epithet australis refers to its geographical distribution in America.

Distribution. Argentina: Jujuy, Tucumán, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Entre Ríos, Córdoba, La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Neuquén and Río Negro provinces.

Host plants. Frequently found on pampas grass and garlic crop during spring and summer and occasionally on rye and rice ( Rossi Batiz & Remes Lenicov 2009).

Type material. Holotype male: ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires: City Bell, 26/I/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Rossi Batiz leg. ( MLP). Paratypes: ARGENTINA: 1 male, 5 females, same data as holotype; 2 males and 1 female, Buenos Aires, City Bell, 13/V/10, hand captured on pampas grass, Rossi Batiz leg.; 1 male, Buenos Aires, Poblet, 18/I/11, hand captured on pampas grass, Remes Lenicov leg.; 6 males and 4 females, Córdoba, Huerta Grande, 24/10/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Rossi Batiz leg. (all in MLP); 1 male and 1 female, Buenos Aires, City Bell, 26/I/2008, Rossi Batiz leg. ( MBA).

Other material examined. ARGENTINA. Jujuy: Azul Pampa, 21/I/59, Torres-Dadone leg., 1 male, 2 females; Tucumán: Cerro San Javier, 20/V/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 1 male, 3 females and 1 nymph; La Rioja: Las Talas, 24/XII/07, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 7 females; San Juan: Dto. Pocito, 13–17/IX, 20–24/IX and 27/IX–01/X/04, with net on rye, Meneguzzi leg., 4 males, 4 females; Mendoza: “La Consulta”, 22/VIII, 5/IX, 12/IX and 26/IX/03, 30/VIII–03/IX, 13–17/IX, 20–24/IX, 27/IX–01/X, 04– 08/X, 18–22/ X, 25–29/X, 22–26/XI, 29/XI–03/XII and 13–17/XII/04, 09–13/IX, 16–20/IX, 23–27/IX, 30/IX, 15/X, 22/X/02, 21/IX, 23/IX, 11/X, 17/X and 20/X/05, 25/VIII, 01/IX, 11/IX, 15/IX, 18/IX, 20/IX, 22/IX, 26/IX, 29/IX, 02/X, 09/ X, 18/XII/06, 13/IX, 15/IX, 18/IX, 02/X and 12/X /0 6, with water trap on garlic, Lanati leg., 110 males, 93 females; Entre Ríos: 24/01/08, Dietrich leg., 1 female; Córdoba: Huerta Grande, 29/VI/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 4 males, 9 females and 1 nymph; San Marcos Sierras, 30/VI/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 2 males, 1 female; Mirador del Lago, 29/VI/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 4 males, 15 females and 1 nymph; Buenos Aires: Santa Catalina, 19/X/99, with net on grass, Remes Lenicov leg., 2 females; City Bell, 26/I/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Rossi Batiz leg., 5 males, 1 female and 3 nymphs; Los Hornos, 11/I, 26/I / 0 8 and 16/I/10, captured with net on rice, Rossi Batiz leg., 1 male, 2 females; La Pampa: Algarrobo del Águila, 10/ II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 1 male, 1 female; Santa Isabel, 10/II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 1 male, 2 females; Neuquén: Cutral-Co, 10/II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 1 male; Zapala, 10/II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 1 male, 3 females and 1 nymph; Río Negro: Lago Mess, 07/II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg., 4 females; El Bolsón, 04/II/08, hand captured on pampas grass, Virla leg. (all in MLP).

Remarks. We observed the intraspecific differences in the shape and carination of head and the colour pattern in the other known species of Saccharosydnini. However, the populations of Lacertina australis captured in various geographical argentinian areas -under quite different weather conditions- showed uniformity in colour, morphology and measurements.

This species can be distinguished from all other known species of Saccharosydnini by the following combination of characters: frons with two submedian carinae, interfrons distinctly swollen at base, male parameres with rounded internal and acute external apical angles, and the colour pattern as noted in the description.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Lacertina australis Remes Lenicov & Rossi Batiz, sp. nov. 1. Head in dorsal (a), lateral (b) and frontal views (c). 2. Wings. 3. Leg III. 4. Female terminalia, ventral view (a), valvulae II, lateral view (b). 5. Male terminalia, lateral view (a), parameres, posterior view (b). Scale bars: Figs. 1, 3, 4 = 0.5 mm; Fig. 2 = 1 mm; Fig. 5 = 0.1 mm.