Virganana maculata DeLong & Thambimuttu

Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, Zootaxa 4954 (1), pp. 1-160 : 139-140

Virganana maculata DeLong & Thambimuttu

( Figs. 15 , 89–90 )

Virganana maculata DeLong & Thambimuttu, 1973: 169 , 171 [original description, illustration, morphology; Zanol, 2008: 71 [catalogue]; Zahniser, 2007 [online catalogue]; Freytag & Gaiani, 2017 [online catalogue]

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from V. herbida by the characters in the key above. Male, 3.5–3.7 mm. Female, 4.3–4.5 mm.

Material Examined. 3♂ paratypes: CHILE, Arauco Prov., Contula , 22–23-XII-1967, D.M. DeLong & T. Cekalovic [ OSUC] . 1♂, CHILE: Region VIII Bio-Bio, Route 160 15 km S San Pedro, 36º54’30.2”S 73º08’2.5”W, alt. 400m, degraded Matorral [old pasture, late succession], 20-I-2006, J.R. Cryan . 2♂, 2♀, CHILE, Malleco Prov., Nahuelbuta, Vegas Blancas , Los Corrales , 37º48’S 72º52’W, 950m ., 25–26-I-2017, J.F. Campodonico leg., sweep netting. [ USNM] .

Distribution. V. maculata is known from the Chilean provinces of Arauco and Malleco.

Remarks. Additional specimens examined here revealed more color variation in this species than was previously known from the type series. DeLong & Thambimuttu (1973) used the darker coloration of their specimens, in part, to distinguish this species from V. herbida , but a pale female specimen of V. maculata examined here suggests that the degree of brown coloration is not by itself able to distinguish the two species. The subgenital plate figured by DeLong & Thambimuttu (1973, Fig. 29 ) appears to be inaccurate, and is drawn much longer than specimens examined here, including paratypes ( Fig. 89F ).

Figures

FIGUIRE 15. Distribution of Aequcephalus and two species of Virganana.

FIGUIRE 29. Dietrichana pampas n.gen. & sp. (J–P) standard views. (Q) apices of metatibiae, tarsomeres I–III, and tarsal claws. (R) tibial pecten and metatarsomere I. (S) female sternite VII, pygofer, and ovipositor.

FIGUIRE 89. Virganana maculata. (A–B, F–I) standard views; A & B, male paratype (OSUC458005); F & G, male paratype (OSUC458004), F shown with valve separated from subgenital plates; H & I, male from Los Corrales (JNZ_AA0414).

FIGUIRE 90. Virganana maculata, SEM images. (Q) detail of crown. (R) face. (S) metatarsomere I, lateral view. (T) detail of face and antennal base. (U) metatarsomere I and tibial pecten, ventral view.