Scaralina rileyi Yanega, 2024

Yanega, Douglas, Goemans, Geert, Dam, Matthew Van, Gómez-Marco, Francesc & Hoddle, Mark, 2024, Description of a new genus of North and Central American planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) with fourteen new species, Zootaxa 5443 (1), pp. 1-53 : 32-33

Scaralina rileyi Yanega , sp. nov.

( Figs 3 , 25 , 39 , 54 , 69 , 81 , 90 )

Etymology. This species is named to honor E.G. Riley, former curator at TAMU, whose assistance was invaluable for this study, and who collected the holotype specimen.

Diagnosis. The long pubescence of the pronotum and mesonotum are unlike any of the populations of marmorata examined; the details of coloration also do not quite match any marmorata color variants known. This taxon appears close to the geographically-proximate orientalis , but the stronger carinae on the frons, the oblique dorsal ridge on the gonostyli, and the lack of orange pigmentation on the forewing base appear to separate the two fairly readily. In orientalis , the forewing bases (and thorax) invariably display a strong peppering of microscopic reddish spots, as well as an orange tint to both the crossveins and to the wing membrane itself; in rileyi the crossveins are whitish, the basal wing membrane is entirely hyaline (i.e., other than the usual infuscated band), and the scattered reddish spots are faintly evident or nearly absent. The male gonostyli are perhaps most similar to obrienae , which is considerably more geographically disjunct. We suspect that rileyi will be found to feed on Quercus grisea , a very common oak in the Davis Mountains, and a very close relative of Q. arizonica , which is the host of some Arizonan Scaralina .

Type material. Holotype, male: TEXAS: Jeff Davis Co.: Davis Mountains, Madera Canyon , 25.vi.1994, E.G. Riley, UV, 1M ( TAMU).

Paratypes (9 specimens) as follows: Jeff Davis Co.: 5 mi NW Fort Davis , 16.vii.1988, R.W. Sites, Hg vapor, 1M (TTU-Z 18719; TTCC) ; Davis Mountains Resort, 21.viii.1987, B.C. Ratcliffe, 1M ( UNL) ; same but 5800 ft, 28.vi.2002, D.G. Marqua, 1M ( TAMU; dissected); same but 27.vi.1992, 1F (TAMU-ENTO X0631563); same but 30.vi.2002, 1M ( TAMU) ; 22 mi NW Fort Davis , 27.vii.2005, J.K. Adams, 4M ( UCRC ENT 129056–58 , 562509 ) .

Description. Head ( Figs 39 , 54 ) Most features as in marmorata but frontal ridges more well-defined, including a very distinct medial ridge that is often complete, the area between the ridges slightly smoother than in marmorata . Clypeus typically mostly dark, with light markings restricted to base of clypeus and widely-spaced lateral pale markings, but lower midline not pale, as also seen in orientalis (compare Figs 39 & 38 to 33 & 37).

Thorax ( Figs 3 , 54 ). Most features as in marmorata but dark markings more extensive on thorax and legs (including tarsi), except the posterior mesonotal lobe is paler; dorsal setae long; pale ground color more grayish than olivaceous, though there are populations of marmorata that are fairly similar outside of Texas.

Wings ( Figs 25 , 69 ) Most features as in marmorata but pale basal area of forewing hyaline and entirely unpigmented except veins. Costal crossveins simple and somewhat closely spaced past 1st branch of M. Hind wing hyaline except base, which is slightly orange-infused.

Abdomen ( Fig. 25 ). Most features as in marmorata but tergum 2 pale medially, tergum 3 almost entirely dark, and terga 4 and beyond pale laterally, with a narrow pale midline and some very faint submedial marks. Female supra-anal plate large, and marked much like preceding tergum.

Male terminalia ( Figs 81 , 90 ). Somewhat similar to marmorata but gonostyli with a more projecting setose bulge, and a strong and almost transverse dorsal ridge (rather than oblique), and a very short basal impressed portion, the latter features therefore similar to obrienae .

Distribution. This taxon is presently unknown from outside of the Davis Mountains, but the Sierra Vieja in Presidio County (about 25 miles away) appears to be unexplored, and there are fairly similar habitats in the Chisos Mountains, yet no specimens have been reported from the area; given the disjunction of this habitat from the nearest similar habitats elsewhere, this may be an endemic taxon. If anything, the biogeography might connect it to the very northern limits of the Sierra Madre Oriental, and therefore to orientalis , but at present, the nearest records for the two taxa are separated by well over 400 miles. The nearest known populations of marmorata are slightly over 250 miles away, but in very different habitats, and there are populations of cristata less than 200 miles away, but that species is not in the marmorata species group.

MESOAMERICAN SPECIES (Map; Fig. 94 ):

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mesonotum of Scaralina rileyi showing long dorsal pubescence.

FIGURE 94. Map of Mesoamerican Scaralina species (type series only).

FIGURES 21–26. Habitus photos of Scaralina species. (21) S. monzoni (female); (22) S. obfusca (type male); (23) S. obrienae (male); (24) S. orientalis (male); (25) S. rileyi (male); (26) S. sullivani (female).

FIGURES 36–41. Faces of Scaralina species. (36) S. obfusca (male); (37) S. obrienae; (38) S. orientalis; (39) S. rileyi; (40) S. sullivani; (41) S. veracruzensis.

FIGURES 51–56. Heads and nota of Scaralina species. (51) S. obfusca (female); (52) S. obrienae; (53) S. orientalis; (54) S. rileyi; (55) S. sullivani; (56) S. veracruzensis.

FIGURES 69–72. Forewings of Scaralina species. (69) S. rileyi; (70) S. sullivani; (71) S. veracruzensis; (72) Scaralis (Alphinoides) inbio.

FIGURES 73–81. Male genitalia of Scaralina species, dorsal view, anal tube removed. (73) S. aethrinsula; (74) S. chapina; (75) S. cristata; (76) S. marmorata; (77) S. metcalfi; (78) S. monzoni; (79) S. obrienae; (80) S. orientalis; (81) S. rileyi. NOTE: obfusca, sullivani not included.

FIGURES 82–90. Male genitalia of Scaralina species, lateral view. (82) S. aethrinsula; (83) S. chapina; (84) S. cristata; (85) S. marmorata; (86) S. metcalfi; (87) S. monzoni; (88) S. obrienae; (89) S. orientalis; (90) S. rileyi.