Amblyscarta pinna, Mejdalani & Domahovski & Cavichioli, 2019

Mejdalani, Gabriel, Domahovski, Alexandre C. & Cavichioli, Rodney R., 2019, Three new Brazilian species of the sharpshooter genus Amblyscarta Stål, 1869 and redescription of A. unifasciata (Fabricius, 1803) comb. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini), Zootaxa 4711 (2), pp. 379-392 : 386-388

Amblyscarta pinna sp. nov.

( Figs 35–50 )

Total length (mm). Male 9.0–9.3 (holotype 9.0); female 9.7–9.8.

Color ( Figs 35–37 ). Ground color of anterior dorsum orange; crown with two dark brown to black median spots, one at transition to frons and another, larger, at posterior margin; posterior portion of pronotum green with dark brown to black spots and vermiculations; mesonotum with dark brown to black markings on scutoscutellar suture and scutellum. Forewing green with dark brown to black vermiculations from base to distal portion of anteapical cells, where a transverse dark brown to black stripe is located; area behind this stripe smoky subhyaline. Face mostly orange. Legs yellow to brown.

Male terminalia. Pygofer ( Fig. 38 ), in lateral view, slightly produced posteriorly; posterior margin slightly rounded inferiorly and with emargination on superior portion; without processes; macrosetae distributed mostly on posterior third. Valve ( Fig. 39 ), in ventral view, large; posterior margin broadly rounded. Subgenital plate ( Figs 38, 39 ), in ventral view, triangular, narrowing gradually towards apex; fused basally to its counterpart; with uniseriate macrosetae along outer margin, microsetae also present; in lateral view, short, not extending as far posteriorly as pygofer apex. Style ( Fig. 40 ), in dorsal view, extending much farther posteriorly than connective; without preapical lobe; apical portion slightly curved outwards, inner margin not dilated, with tiny apical tooth; apex distinctly truncate. Aedeagus ( Figs 41, 42 ) symmetrical; shaft, in lateral view, with conspicuous, slightly asymmetrical dorsal finlike process; with pair of longitudinal lateral flanges forming apically dentiform process directed outwards; ventral margin with pair of flanges, each one with basal projection; gonopore located apically.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII ( Figs 43, 44 ), in ventral view, with strong triangular projection on posterior margin. “Internal” sternite VIII without distinct sclerites. Pygofer ( Figs 43, 44 ), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin rounded; macrosetae distributed on posterior portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Valvifer I ( Fig. 45 ), in lateral view, subquadrangular. Valvula I ( Figs 45, 46 ), in lateral view, with acute apex; dorsal sculptured area extending from basal portion to apex of blade, strigate; ventral sculptured area restricted to apical portion, strigate; ventral interlocking device distinct along basiventral half of blade; in ventral view, basal portion of valvula I expanded outwards. Valvula II ( Figs 47–49 ), in lateral view, expanded beyond basal curvature; dorsal margin convex, bearing about 20 teeth; basal portion of most teeth projected dorsally, their posterior portion flat, apical teeth triangular; denticles distributed on teeth and on dorsal and ventral apical portions of blade (ventral denticulate apical portion longer than dorsal portion); preapical prominence distinct; apex obtuse; valvula with ducts extending towards teeth and apex. Gonoplac ( Fig. 50 ) of the usual Cicadellinae type: in lateral view, with basal half narrow; apical half expanded, gradually narrowing towards apex; latter obtuse; tiny denticuli on apical portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin.

Material examined. Male holotype: “ Brasil, MT [Mato Grosso], Cláudia, Fazen-\ da Continental , 11.5841°S \ 55.3003°W, 365m, light trap, \ 17-19.vi.2017, RR Cavichioli \ & AC Domahovski ” ( DZUP). Paratypes: 1♂, 2♀, “ Brasil, MT , Novo Mundo, \ Pq. [Parque] Est. [Estadual] do Cristalino \ 09.4517°S 55.8396°W, \ 240m, sweep, 21- 25.vi. \ 2017, AC Domahovski ” ( MNRJ, 1♀ DZUP) .

Etymology. The new species name comes from the Latin and refers to the dorsal fin-like process of the aedeagus ( Fig. 41 ). It is a noun in apposition.

Remarks. This new species can be promptly recognized by the peculiar fin-like process of the aedeagus ( Fig. 41 ), which is unique within the genus. As in the case of the two previous new taxa, the color pattern ( Figs 35, 36 ) will readily distinguish A. pinna sp. nov. from those poorly known species that were not included in Young’s (1977) key ( A. cervicula , A. lignea , A. modesta , and A. schaumi ; see digital images in Wilson et al. 1999).

Figures

FIGURES 35–42. Amblyscarta pinna sp. nov., male. 35. Body, dorsal view. 36. Body, lateral view. 37. Face, frontal view. 38. Genital capsule, lateral view. 39. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view. 40. Connective and style, dorsal view. 41. Aedeagus, lateral view. 42. Aedeagus, ventral view.

FIGURES 43–50. Amblyscarta pinna sp. nov., female. 43. Distal portion of abdomen, ventral view. 44. Distal portion of abdomen, lateral view. 45. First valvifer and first valvula, lateral view. 46. Apical portion of first valvula. 47–49. Second valvula. 47. Lateral view. 48. Teeth at median portion. 49. Apical portion. 50. Second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view.