Poppea unispina, Mckamey, 2017

Mckamey, Stuart H., 2017, Two new species of unusual Ceresini (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Smiliinae), Zootaxa 4281 (1), pp. 115-119 : 118

Poppea unispina , n. sp.

( Figs. 8–10 )

Diagnosis. Pronotum without suprahumeral spines, dorsum with numerous swellings, lateral lobes of distal trifurcate process lacking apical spines.

Description of female. Dimensions (mm): pronotal length 6.1; maximum width across lateral lobes of distal trifurcate process 2.6. Covered with long pale setae, pale orange throughout, except valvulae black and wings hyaline. Head vertex with middle and sides separately swollen; clypeus swollen ( Fig. 9 ). Pronotum with 2 swollen lobes anteriorly above vertex, 2 just behind, 2 more lateral and suprahumeral, 1 medial just behind the former, and 2 small lobes along lateral margin anterior to trifurcate process ( Figs. 8, 10 ); all forks of distal trifurcate process bulbous, lateral bulbs lacking apical spines ( Fig. 10 ).

Male. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype female, “ Costa Rica: Guanacaste | Pitilla | 700 msnm VI-89 | Col. WSC,” and and “ HOLOTYPE | Poppea | unispina | S.H. McKamey ” ( USNM).

Distribution. Costa Rica: Guanacaste Province.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the single pronotal spine on the pronotum, present at the mid apex of the pronotum, in contrast to the 3–5 spines present in other species of the genus.

Discussion. The only Poppea species approaching P. unispina is P. variegata (Plummer) , which has minute suprahumeral spines and a medial lobe in the same position as in the new species. Poppea variegata , however, has all forks of the distal trifurcate process bearing apical spines. The only described species of Poppea without 5 apical spines is P. evelyna , which has prominent suprahumeral spines.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 10. Poppea unispina n. sp., holotype (USNM), habitus in lateral, anterior, and dorsal views, respectively.