Tenucephalus lingulatus, 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 : 110-113

Tenucephalus lingulatus n. sp.

( Figs. 69 , 84 )

Diagnosis. T. lingulatus can be identified by a combination of the typical color pattern, male pygofer distinctly constricted in dorsal view forming a wide base and constricted apical part, aedeagus without apical flagellar process, valve not or only slightly produced anteromedially, connective-aedeagus with an asymmetrical unpaired dorsal

process arising from base of aedeagus and extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft and without basal pair of symmetrical processes, and aedeagal shaft tubular and reaching 2/3 length of dorsal process.

Body. Male, 3.8–4.0 mm. Female, 4.2–4.5 mm to wing apex, 4.7–5.0 mm to ovipositor tip.

Color. With the typical color pattern.

Male. Pygofer length in lateral more than 2x median height; in lateral view with group of ~12 midlength setae dorsad of apical 1/4 of membranous cleft; with another group of midlength dorsocaudally directed setae beginning at apex of membranous cleft, extending caudally, and forming patch of long macrosetae on dorsoapical 1/5 of py- gofer; in dorsal view constricted, forming a wide base and constricted apical part. Valve triangular; width less than 2x median length; slightly produced anteromedially. Subgenital plates long, triangular; with single lateral row of 6–8 macrosetae; with numerous, relatively densely situated, long fine setae. Style articulating arm long, produced; preapical lobe short, knoblike; apophysis short, thick, sharply pointed at apex. Connective long, narrow. Connective-aedeagus with asymmetrical unpaired dorsal process arising from base of aedeagus extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft, lanceolate in shape; without symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base. Aedeagus with basal 2/3 relatively tall in lateral view, narrowing to tubular apical 1/3; about 2/3 length of dorsal process. Phragma partly sclerotized as small, nearly spherical bulbs, with several setae apically. Segment X membranous.

Female. Sternite VII with sharply angled lateral lobes; medially with long lingulate process, slightly widening toward apex, with denticulate texture. Segment VIII mostly membranous, slightly exceeding anterior margin of stVII.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, PERU: Madre de Dios, Tambopata Research Center, on Rio Tam- bopata, 622ft., 13°08.305’S 69°36.502’W, 3–7-X-2004, C.R. Bartlett [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 6♂, 4♀, same data as holotype . 1♂, BOLIVIA: Dpto. Santa Cruz, nr. Buena Vista , 17°30.867’S, 063°40.245’W, 334m’, 13-XI-2009, at MV/UV lights nr. river, coll. G.J. Svenson. [ USNM]

Etymology. The adjectival species name refers to the lingulate process of the female sternite VII.

Distribution. T. lingulatus is known from southeastern Peru and Bolivia.

Remarks. T. lingulatus is very similar and apparently closely related to T. johnsoni , known from distant localities in Goiás and Minas Gerais, Brazil. The two species were resolved in a strongly supported clade with T. bartletti here ( Fig. 91 ).

Figures

FIGUIRE 69. Tenucephalus lingulatus n. sp. (A–B, D–H, J) standard views; A & B, female.

FIGUIRE 84. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. and Virganana danasensis in northwestern South America.

FIGUIRE 91. Strict consensus tree from MP analysis of 51 morphological characters. Numbers below branches are MP bootstrap scores. The plesiomorphic condition is macroptery for both males and females (Hecalocorica bidentata ♂ shown in up- per left). Key stepwise transitions leading to brachyptery occur on clades A (char. 20; forewing of Hecullus bracteatus ♀ and hindwing of Acrolithus brevis ♀ shown), B (char. 22; Acrolithus brevis ♂ shown), and C (chars. 20 & 22; Dietrichana pampas ♀ shown).