Tenucephalus musettiae, Zahniser, 2021

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 : 116-117

Tenucephalus musettiae n. sp.

( Figs. 74 , 85 )

Diagnosis. T. musettiae can be identified by a combination of the typical color pattern, male pygofer in lateral view strongly depressed, long, narrow, and tapering to apex, male pygofer with dorsal processes arising from near base and extending length of pygofer and upturned at apex, the connective-aedeagus without a pair of basal processes and without unpaired process extending dorsad of aedeagus, and the aedeagus with a short flap-like compressed extension at apex.

Body. Male 5.2–5.4 mm. Female, 5.5 mm to wing apex.

Color. With the typical color pattern. Scutellum median 1/3 brighter than each lateral 1/3. Forewing inner anteapical cell, brachial cell, and anal cells with brown coloration at apex.

Male. Pygofer in lateral view strongly depressed, long, narrow, and tapering to apex; with dorsal processes arising from near base and extending length of pygofer and upturned at apex; incised nearly to base in dorsal view. Valve length shorter than width. Subgenital plates relatively large; apices truncate; laterally with 1–2 rows of long macrosetae; laterally with many other fine setae. Style preapical angle sharp; apophysis elongate, digitate. Connective-aedeagus without symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base; without unpaired process extending dorsad of aedeagus. Aedeagus shaft relatively broad in ventral view; apex with a short flap-like compressed extension. Segment X membranous. Phragma membranous with numerous short setae.

Female. Sternite VII laterally with long sharply pointed lobe; posterior margin with distinct medial excavation. Sternite VIII variously sclerotized beneath stVII; with numerous transverse sclerotized ridges.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, BRAZIL: Goiás, Serra da Mesa Survey , 14°01.3’S 48°18.4’W, 28-IX – 5-X-1995, malaise, across stream, NF Johnson [ MZSP] . PARATYPES: 1♀, same data as holotype . 1♂, same data as holotype, except 4–5-X-1995 . 1♂, BRAZIL: Goiás, Serra da Mesa Survey , 14°01.3’S 48°18.4’W, 5.x.1995 , cer- radão, malaise, NF Johnson. 1♂, same data as preceding, except 1–5-X-1995 . 1♂, same data as preceding, except 24-IX – 1-X-1995. [ MZSP, OSUC]

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Luciana Musetti (OSUC) who greatly facilitated this study.

Distribution. T. musettiae is known only from this series of specimens from the Serra da Mesa Survey.

Figures

FIGUIRE 74. Tenucephalus musettiae n. sp. (A–H, J) standard views.

FIGUIRE 85. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. in eastern South America.