Melanastera pleromatos, Serbina & Malenovský & Queiroz & Burckhardt, 2025

Serbina, Liliya Š., Malenovský, Igor, Queiroz, Dalva L. & Burckhardt, Daniel, 2025, Jumping plant-lice of the tribe Paurocephalini (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Liviidae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 5585 (1), pp. 1-164 : 84-86

37 Melanastera pleromatos sp. nov.

( Figs 11H , 18B , 30A–F )

Type material. Holotype ♂: Brazil: RIO GRANDE DO SUL: Cambará do Sul, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Itaimbezinho , park headquarters, S29.1583, W50.0800, 910 m, 25.i.2016, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #187(3) ( UFPR; dry).

Paratypes. Brazil: PARANÁ: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Antonina, Usina Parigot de Souza , S25.2557, W48.7787, 720 m, 19.vii.2017, Pleroma raddianum (I. Malenovský) #250 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 5 ♂, 7 ♀, 1 immature, same but Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #250(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007500) ; 2 ♀, same but (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #251 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007501) ; 1 ♂, 8 ♀, Bocaiuva do Sul, BR- 476 km 86, S25.1283 /1900, W49.085 /1283, 900–1080 m, 18.iv.2013, Pleroma sellowianum , remnants of Atlantic forest along plantations (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #104(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007482) ; 5 ♂, 6 ♀, same but BR- 476 km 72, S25.0783, W49.0916, 1140 m, 21.iv.2013, Pleroma sellowianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #108(1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007487) ; 3 ♂, 1 ♀, Cerro Azul , BR-476 km 69, S25.0685, W49.0877, 1080 m, 18–19.iv.2013 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #106(6) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007484, NMB-PSYLL0007539) ; 1 ♀, 1 immature, Colombo, Campus da Embrapa , S24.8526, W48.7358, 900 m, 12.ii.2014 (D. L. Queiroz) #591 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007504) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 immature, same but (D. L. Queiroz) #595 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007505) ; 5 ♂, 15 ♀, 5 immatures, same but (D. L. Queiroz) #596 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007506) ; 8 ♂, 12 ♀, 20 immatures, Curitiba, Parque Barigui , S25.4266, W49.3133, 910m, 9.ii.2016, Pleroma raddianum (D.Burckhardt &D.L. Queiroz) #196(9) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007498, NMB-PSYLL0007535, NMB-PSYLL0007536) ; 1 ♂, 4 ♀, same but Pedreira Paulo , S25.3850, W49.2783, 950 m, 24.x.2012, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #47(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007476) ; 1 ♂, same but Parque Barreirinha , S25.3629, W49.2612, 1.xii.2012 (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #82 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007486) ; 6 ♂, 9 ♀, same but Parque Barigui , S254269 , W 493134, 910 m, 4.xii.2012, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #85(6) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007479) ; 4 ♂, 5 ♀, 2 immatures, same but Bosque Zaninelli , S254269 , W 493134, 950 m, 11.ii.2013, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #91(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007480) ; 2 ♂, 4 ♀, same but Jardim Botânico , S25.4416, W49.2383, 910 m, 2.iv.2013, Tibouchina sp. (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #97(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007481) ; 9 ♂, 8 ♀, Matinhos, Rodovia Elisio Pereira Alves Filho , S25.7100 /7916, W48.5616 /5766, 0–10 m, 29.xi.2012, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #81(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007477) ; 1 ♀, Morretes, Recanto Engenheiro Lacerda PR-410, S25.3333 /3337, W48.9009 /9015, 780– 870 m, 13.ix.2011, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #2(1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007414) ; 13 ♂, 23 ♀, 3 immatures, 4 skins, same but Estação Marumbi , S25.4484 /4492, W48.8901 /8915, 230– 240 m, 14.ix.2011, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #5(3) ( MMBC, NHMB; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007471, NMB-PSYLL0007472, NMB-PSYLL0007526 [LSMeltibo-6], NMB-PSYLL0007529 [LSMeltibo-6], NMB-PSYLL0007530, NMB-PSYLL0007485 [voucher 5(4)]) ; 5 ♂, 4 ♀, same but Floresta Marumbi , trail to hotel, S25.4459, W48.8873, 170 m, 14.ix.2011, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #6(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007473) ; 5 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 immature, same but BR-277, Cachoeira , S25.5748, W48.8279, 700 m, 28.xi.2012, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #80(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007478) ; 1 adult, same but PR-410, Recanto Rio Cascata, S25.3340, W48.8984, 800 m, 26.vii.2017, Pleroma raddianum , Atlantic forest ( L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC1 ( NHMB; slide, NMB-PSYLL0007531 [voucher 6-1]) ; 1 ♀, same but ( L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC2+3 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 1 ♀, same but ( L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC3 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 8 ♂, 26 ♀, Piraquara, Parque Estadual do Marumbi , 25.1566/1600, W48.9745 /9916, 890– 1170 m, 23–24.iv.2013, Pleroma sellowianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #109(1) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007497) ; 12 ♂, 4 ♀, same but Marumbi, Estação Carvalho , S27.4727, W48.3781, 1000 m, 20.xi.2013, Miconia sellowiana (D.L. Queiroz) #599(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007503, NMB-PSYLL0007532 [voucher 5-9]) ; 1 ♀, Piraquara, Road to Marumbi , S25.4962, W48.9817, 990 m, 21.xi.2013 (D. L. Queiroz) #600 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007507) ; 7 ♂, 10 ♀, 4 immatures, 1 skin, same but Marumbi, Road to Estação Carvalho , S25.4962, W48.9817, 990 m, 11.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #668 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0006044) ; 5 ♂, 4 ♀, same but S27.4727, W48.3781, 1000 m, 11.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #670 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0006050) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same but Marumbi, Estação Carvalho , S27.4715, W48.3799, 1050 m, 11.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #671 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0006040 [male voucher]) ; 6 ♂, 7 ♀, 1 immature, Piraquara , BR- 277 km 50–55, S25.5733, W48.9900, 940 m, 28.xi.2012, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #79(4) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007474) ; 1 ♂, 8 ♀, Tibagi, Parque Estadual Guartelá , S24.5623 /5666, W50.2589, 920–950 m, 23–25.vi.2015, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #171(2) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007489) ; 4 ♂, 7 ♀, Tibagi, Parque Estadual Guartelá , S24.5683, W50.2553, 940 m, 10–12.vii.2017, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #245(5) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007499) ; 3 ♂, 5 ♀, 1 skin, Tibagi, Parque Estadual Guartelá , S24.5683, W50.2553, 940 m, 10.vii.2017, Cerrado vegetation ( L. Serbina) #DIC4 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) ; 2 ♂, 5 ♀, Tunas do Paraná , BR- 476 km 60, S25.0083, W49.0800, 900 m, 18.iv.2013, Miconia sp. (D. Burckhardt & D. L. Queiroz) #105(2) ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007483, NMB-PSYLL0007537) ; 9 ♂, 12 ♀, 6 immatures, 2 skins, Tunas do Paraná , Parque das Lauraceas, S25.0688, W49.0888, 890 m, 8.viii.2013 (D. L. Queiroz) #556 ( NHMB; slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007502, NMB-PSYLL0007525 [voucher 6-10]) ; 2 ♂, 5 ♀, Ventania, road BR-153, around 10 km from Ventania , 241,783, W50.2166, 870 m, 18.ix.2014, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #149(3) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007488) ; 3 ♂, 4 ♀, 40 immatures, 1 skin, Morretes, PR-410, Recanto Rio Cascata, S25.3340, W48.8984, 800 m, 26.vii.2017, Pleroma raddianum , Atlantic forest ( L. Serbina & I. Malenovský) #DIC2, 1 ( MMBC; 70% ethanol) .— RIO GRANDE DO SUL: 6 ♂, 16 ♀, 10 immatures, 1 skin, Passo Fundo , S28.2288, W52.4061, 670 m, 7.ix.2012, Pleroma sellowianum (A.L. Marsaro Jr.) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007510) ; 9 ♂, 9 ♀, 15 immatures, same but S28.2288, W52.4061, 670 m, 14.xi.2012 ( A. L. Marsaro Jr.) ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007509) ; 18 ♂, 27 ♀, 5 immatures, Cambará do Sul, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Itaimbezinho , park headquarters, S29.1583, W50.0800, 910 m, 25.i.2016, Pleroma raddianum (D. Burckhardt & D.L. Queiroz) #187(3) ( BMNH, MHNG, MMBC, NHMB, UFPR, USNM; dry, slide, 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007490–NMB-PSYLL0007496, NMB-PSYLL0007475, NMB-PSYLL0007560, NMB-PSYLL0007527 [voucher 6-3], NMB-PSYLL0007528 [voucher 6- 4], NMB-PSYLL0007533 [voucher 6r-2], NMB-PSYLL0007534 [voucher 6r-1], NMB-PSYLL0007538) .— SANTA CATARINA: 1 ♂, Florianópolis, Costão do Santinho , S11.8339, W55.4996, 170 m, 16.ii.2015 (D. L. Queiroz) #672 ( NHMB; 70% ethanol; NMB-PSYLL0007508) .

Description. Adult. Coloration. Head and clypeus yellow with small dark dots on the vertex. Antenna whitish, apices of segments 4–9 and entire segment 10 dark brown. Thorax light orange brown, with scattered dark brown dots; mesopraescutum with two orange patches at the fore margin; mesoscutum with four broad and, in the middle, one narrow orange longitudinal stripes, margined by dark brown dots. Forewing ( Fig. 18B ) light amber-coloured with sparse, irregular brown dots; base and apex of pterostigma and apices of veins Rs, M 1+2, M 3+4, Cu 1a and Cu 1b brown. Legs yellow, pro- and mesofemora with two transverse brown bands. Abdomens and terminalia yellow.

Structure. Forewing ( Fig. 18B ) oblong-oval, widest in the middle, unevenly rounded apically; wing apex situated in cell r 2 near apex of M 1+2; C+Sc distinctly curved in distal third; pterostigma about as wide as r 1 cell in the middle, weakly widening to the middle; Rs almost straight in basal two thirds, obliquely curved to fore margin apically; M longer than M 1+2 and M 3+4; Cu 1a relatively straight in basal two thirds, ending slightly proximal of M fork; surface spinules present in all cells, leaving narrow spinule-free stripes along the veins, forming hexagons of a double row of spinules, spinules absent from base of cell c+sc. Hindwing with 2 + 3–4 grouped costal setae. Metatibia short, bearing a posteriorly open crown of 8–9 ungrouped apical spurs.

Terminalia ( Fig. 30A–F ). Male. Proctiger tubular, weakly produced posteriorly; densely covered with short setae in apical two thirds. Subgenital plate irregularly ovoid; dorsal margin strongly curved in distal third; posterior margin irregularly convex; with densely spaced long setae. Paramere, in lateral view, irregularly lanceolate; apex, in lateral view, blunt, directed upwards and slightly anteriad, in dorsal view, paramere broad subapically, apex sclerotised and pointed, directed inwards; outer face with long setae mostly in apical half; inner face with dense moderately long setae; posterior margin with longer setae. Proximal segment of aedeagus with apical part moderately subdivided. Distal segment of aedeagus almost straight in basal half; ventral process situated slightly distad of the middle of the segment length, simple, lacking lateral lobes, in lateral view, ventral process narrow, lamellar, in dorsal view, ventral process narrower than apical dilation, slightly widening to apex, broadest apically; apical dilation broad, in lateral view, slightly widening towards broadly rounded apex, broadest in apical third, dorsal part of apical dilation membranous and expanded at base, in dorsal view, apical dilation broadest medially, rounded apically; sclerotised end tube short and weakly sinuate.—Female terminalia cuneate; densely covered with setae. Dorsal margin of proctiger, in lateral view, straight, apex pointed; in dorsal view, apex blunt; circumanal ring, in dorsal view, cruciform. Subgenital plate, in lateral view, irregularly narrowing to apex, apex pointed; in ventral view, apex truncate.

Fifth instar immature. Coloration. Pale yellow; antenna gradually becoming darker towards apex, segments 9–10 brown; cephalothoracic sclerite, wing pads, legs and caudal plate yellow to pale brown.

Structure. Eye with one short simple ocular seta dorsally.Antennal segments with following numbers of pointed sectasetae: 1(0), 2(2—one large, one small), 3(0), 4(2), 5(0), 6(2), 7(1), 8(1), 9(0), 10(0). Forewing pad with five marginal and 1–2 dorsal pointed sectasetae; hindwing pad with two marginal and one dorsal pointed sectasetae. Metatibiotarsus short; tarsal arolium broadly triangular apically, 1.2 times as long as claws. Abdomen with four (2+2) pointed sectasetae laterally on either side anterior to caudal plate. Caudal plate with anterior margin relatively remote from anterior margin of extra pore fields; with five pointed sectasetae situated on weakly pronounced tubercles on either side laterally, and 3–4 pointed sectasetae subapically on either side of circumanal ring side dorsally. Extra pore fields forming continuous outer and inner bands, consisting of small oval patches; outer band relatively short medially, end pointing outwards. Circumanal ring small.

Host plants. Pleroma raddianum (DC.) Gardner , P. sellowianum (Cham) P.J.F.Guim. & Michelang. ( Melastomataceae ).

Distribution. Brazil (PR, RS, SC).

Derivation of name. Named after its host, Pleroma .

Comments. Melanastera pleromatos sp. nov. is morphologically close to M. tibialis sp. nov. The two species differ as indicated under M. tibialis .

The ingariko -group

Description. Adult. Head, in lateral view, inclined at ≥ 45° from longitudinal axis of body ( Fig. 7F ).Vertex trapezoidal, covered with distinct imbricate microsculpture ( Figs 11I, J , 12A, C–E ) (rugosely imbricate in M. acuminata sp. nov.; Fig. 12B ) and microscopical setae. Thorax moderately or strongly arched, covered with microscopical setae; metapostnotum usually with distinct longitudinal keel (indistinct in M. caramambatai sp. nov.). Forewing ( Fig. 18C–I ) uniformly coloured, with small brown dots; pterostigma distinctly expanding towards the middle or apical third, longer than 4.0 times as wide; vein R 1 weakly convex or straight medially. Paramere, in lateral view, irregularly acuminate, falcate or lamellar. Distal segment of aedeagus bearing short ventral process, less than half as long as apical dilation, which is, in dorsal view, wider than the latter.

Immature. Antenna 10-segmented.

Comments. The group comprises seven species from Brazil and one species from Panama, viz. M. longitarsata (Brown & Hodkinson) . The Panamanian species differs from the other group members in the longer metatibia (MT/ MF> 1.7 versus ≤ 1.7). Five species develop on Melastomataceae ( Clidemia , Miconia ) and two on Annonaceae ( Guatteria , Xylopia ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Habitus of adult Paurocephalini. A, Klyveria crassiflagellata (Burckhardt); B, Melanastera moquiniastri sp. nov.; C, M. olgae sp. nov.; D, M. xylopiae sp. nov.; E, M. virolae sp. nov.; F, M. melanocephala sp. nov.; G, M. sellowianae sp. nov.; H, M. smithi (Burckhardt, Morais & Picanço). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 11. Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view. A, M. dimorpha sp. nov., ♀; B, M. cabucu sp. nov.; C, M. itatiaia sp. nov.; D, M. pusilliflorae sp. nov.; E, M. goldenbergi sp. nov.; F, M. clavata sp. nov.; G, M. tibialis sp. nov.; H, M. pleromatos sp. nov.; I, M. ingariko sp. nov.; J, M. brasiliensis sp. nov.

FIGURE 12. Melanastera spp., head, dorsal view.A, M. caramambatai sp. nov.; B, M.acuminata sp. nov.; C, M.melanocephala sp. nov.; D, M. brevicauda sp. nov.; E, M. michali sp. nov.; F, M. duckei sp. nov.; G, M. burchellii sp. nov.; H, M. barretoi sp. nov.; I, M. sericeae sp. nov.; J, M. tristis sp. nov.; K, M. discoloris sp. nov.; L, M. truncata sp. nov.

FIGURE 18. Melanastera spp., forewing. A, M. tibialis sp. nov.; B, M. pleromatos sp. nov.; C, M. ingariko sp. nov.; D, M. brasiliensis sp. nov.; E, M. caramambatai sp. nov.; F, M. acuminata sp. nov.; G, M. melanocephala sp. nov.; H, M. brevicauda sp. nov.; I, M. michali sp. nov.; J, M. duckei sp. nov. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 30. Melanastera pleromatos sp. nov. A, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; B, paramere, inner face, lateral view; C, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; D, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; E, paramere, dorsal view; F, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. ingariko sp. nov. G, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; H, paramere, inner face, lateral view; I, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; J, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; K, paramere, dorsal view; L, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. brasiliensis sp. nov. M, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; N, paramere, inner face, lateral view; O, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; P, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; Q, paramere, dorsal view; R, ♀ terminalia, lateral view.—M. caramambatai sp. nov. S, ♂ terminalia, lateral view; T, paramere, inner face, lateral view; U, distal segment of aedeagus, lateral view; V, distal segment of aedeagus, dorsal view; W, paramere, dorsal view; X, ♀ terminalia, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.