Tenucephalus flagellifer, 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 : 104

Tenucephalus flagellifer n. sp.

( Figs. 64 , 84 )

Diagnosis. T. flagellifer can be identified by the combination of the typical color pattern, styles bilaterally symmetrical, style apophysis short and truncate, the connective-aedeagus with an asymmetrical unpaired dorsal process arising from base of aedeagus extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft and without basal pair of symmetrical processes, and the apical flagellar process of aedeagus very long, extending to apex of dorsal aedeagal process and recurved back to base of aedeagus.

Body. Male, 4.6–4.8 mm. Female, 4.8–5.2 mm to wing apex, 5.1–5.6 mm to ovipositor tip.

Color. With the typical color pattern. Forewing with distinct bright yellow stripe along basal 2/3 of costal margin.

Male. Pygofer length in lateral view about 2x median height; apically narrowed, forming dorsocaudally pointing lobe; posterior 1/3 with numerous macrosetae; with numerous short setae posteriad and ventrad of membranous cleft. Valve strongly produced anteriorly; roughly diamond shaped; width less than 2x median length. Subgenital plates long; lateral margin concave on apical 2/3; with single lateral row of 15–17 macrosetae; with numerous long fine setae laterally. Style with median arm produced; preapical lobe very short, rounded; apophysis short, thick, apex truncate with lateral corner toothlike. Connective-aedeagus with asymmetrical unpaired dorsal process arising from base of aedeagus, extending dorsad of aedeagal shaft; without basal pair of symmetrical processes. Base of aedeagus thick in lateral view; shaft much narrower than base, tubular, with very long apical flagellar process extending to apex of dorsal aedeagal process and recurved back to base of aedeagus. Phragma forming small elongate bulbous lobes; with several apical setae. Segment X sclerotized laterally and dorsally at apex.

Female. Sternite VII very large; longest length at lateral lobe about equal to width; with medial longitudinal ridge; posterior margin shallowly and broadly excavated, undulate. Sternite VIII mostly membranous, with hoofshaped lightly sclerotized portion anteromedially; not exceeding anterior margin of stVII.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, PERU: Madre de Dios, Rio Tambopata Res. , 30 air km SW Pto. Maldo- nado, 290m, 2–5-XI-1979, J.B. Heppner, subtropical moist forest [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 1♂, 1♀, same data . 3♂, 2♀, same data except 6–10-XI-1979 . 1♂, 3♀, same data except 11–15-XI-1979 . 2♂, 1♀, same data except 16–20- XI-1979 . 2♀, same data except 21–25-XI-1979. [ USNM]

Etymology. The species name is an adjective, referring to the long flagellar process of the aedeagus.

Distribution. T. flagellifer is known only from the type locality in Peru, Madre de Dios.

Figures

FIGUIRE 64. Tenucephalus flagellifer n. sp. (A–B, D–J) standard views.

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