Tenucephalus johnsoni, 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

Tenucephalus johnsoni n. sp.

( Figs. 68 , 85 )

Diagnosis. T. johnsoni can be distinguished from other species of the genus by a combination of the typical color pattern, male pygofer distinctly constricted in dorsal view, valve produced anteromedially, connective-aedeagus with a asymmetrical unpaired dorsal process arising from base of aedeagus extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft, and aedeagus without apical flagellar process aedeagal shaft, lanceolate, and reaching to near midlength of dorsal process.

Body. Male, 3.6 mm. Female, 3.9 mm to wing apex.

Color. With the typical color pattern.

Male. Pygofer longer than 2x height at midlength; with series of short setae dorsad and posterad of membranous cleft, gradually becoming longer toward pygofer apex, apex with 10–15 long macrosetae; distinctly constricted in dorsal view. Valve width less than 2x median length; anterior margin produced medially. Subgenital plate long; lateral margin concave; with single row of ~12 macrosetae near lateral margin; with numerous long setae laterally, forming thick vestiture. Style median arm produced anteriorly; preapical lobe distinct, knob-like; apophysis short, claw-like, pointing ventrad. Connective very long, narrow. Connective-aedeagus without symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base; with asymmetrical unpaired dorsal process arising from base of aedeagus extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft. Aedeagus with shaft lanceolate, reaching to near midlength of dorsal process. Phragma semispherical, bulbous, with several rows of distinct short setae throughout. Segment X membranous.

Female. Sternite VII posterolateral corners forming rounded right angles; with lingulate process tapering toward apex; with denticulate texture. Sternite VIII membranous; anterior arc not exceeding anterior margin of stVII.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, BRAZIL, Minas Gerais, Lassance , 9–19-XI-1919, R.G. Harris [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 1♂, BRAZIL: Goiás, Serra da Mesa Survey , 14°01.3’S 48°18.4’W, 24-IX – 1-X-1995, cerradão, malaise, N.F. Johnson . 1♂, 1♀, BRAZIL, Goiás, Colinas do Sul, Encontro das águas, Rio São Miguel , 14°16’21”S 47°54’56”W, 27-X-2013, light trap, B.M. Camisão, C.C. Gonçalves, & D.M. Takiya. [ MZSP, USNM, DZRJ]

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Dr. Norman Johnson (OSUC), collector of this and several other species of Faltalini during a survey of the Serra da Mesa.

Distribution. T. johnsoni is known from two states in eastern Brazil.

Remarks. T. johnsoni is morphologically similar and related to the distantly located T. lingulatus (Madre de Dios, Peru). The two species were resolved with strong branch support in a clade with T. bartletti ( Fig. 91 ).

Figures

FIGUIRE 68. Tenucephalus johnsoni n. sp. (A–B, D–H, J) standard views; A1 & B, female; A2, male. (Q) male genital capsule, ventral view.

FIGUIRE 85. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. in eastern 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).