Scaralina hawksi Yanega, 2024

Yanega, Douglas, Goemans, Geert, Dam, Matthew Van, Gómez-Marco, Francesc & Hoddle, Mark, 2024, Description of a new genus of North and Central American planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) with fourteen new species, Zootaxa 5443 (1), pp. 1-53 : 36

Scaralina hawksi Yanega , sp. nov.

( Figs 19 , 32 , 47 , 62 )

Etymology. This species is named for its collector, my colleague and friend Dave Hawks, who made a special effort to collect fulgorids we could use for this revision, and caught four undescribed taxa in one trip, of which this is one of two that was previously unknown.

Diagnosis. This species is very similar to S. aethrinsula , especially in the extensive yellow dorsal abdominal markings, but female tergum 6 is modified into an elongated supra-anal plate as in other members of the genus, and the frons is more extensively pale, with much smaller dark spots. The five very faint converging ridges on the frons, in addition to the lower transverse ridges, are atypical for Scaralina . The tip of the main rostral segment extends only slightly past the metacoxae, therefore among the shortest in the genus, and the clypeus is not quite as elongate as most other species.

Description (female only; male unknown). Head ( Figs 32 , 47 ). Frons and clypeus mostly pale with small dark spots, though upper frons with a strong transverse dark band; surface relatively smooth and flat but with five very faint converging ridges in addition to lower transverse ridge above clypeal base. Lateral margin of frons slightly concave, lower lobes of frons slightly expanded. Clypeus only slightly longer than broad. Dark granular spots on vertex very well-defined and contrasting with mostly pale surface. Rostrum with tip of the main rostral segment extending only slightly past the metacoxae.

Thorax ( Fig. 47 ). Many features similar to aethrinsula , though the pale areas are rarely well-defined circular spots, especially not on the mesonotum, and the lateral mesonotal carinae are more weakly curved; dorsal setae slightly longer.

Wings ( Figs 19 , 62 ). Forewings similar to aethrinsula , but slightly less medial maculation, fewer fine anastomosing veins, and more contrast between pale basal veins against the dark background; basal translucent area very faintly pale orange with pale orange veins; medial venation often with more visible dark outline, somewhat similar to cristata . Costal crossveins numerous, close, often sinuous or slightly anastomosing, more similar to cristata than to aethrinsula . The dark transverse basal markings of the two specimens are broad but irregularly pigmented. Hindwings pale orange at base, much reduced compared to related species.

Abdomen ( Fig. 19 ). Dorsal coloration mostly similar to aethrinsula , but medial and lateral markings less visibly separated; tergum 6 roughly twice as long as preceding tergum, forming a supra-anal plate, similar to others in the genus. [Note: both specimens crushed somewhat, but it is assumed that in better-preserved material the anal tube would be at least partially concealed.]

Type material. Holotype, female: MEXICO: Durango: “ Canelas , 1955m MV, 25°7’51”N 106°30’34”W, 29.vii.2019 D.C. Hawks ” ( UCRC ENT 533960 , at UCRC).

Paratype, female: same data ( UCRC ENT 533959 ) .

Distribution. So far known only from the type locality in western Durango.

Figures

FIGURES 13–20. Habitus photos of Scaralina species. (13) S. aethrinsula (male); (14) S. chapina (male); (15) S. cristata (male); (16) S. marmorata (female); (17) S. durango (type female); (18) S. gigantea (type female); (19) S. hawksi (female, crushed somewhat); (20) S. metcalfi (male).

FIGURES 27–35. Faces of Scaralina species. (27) S. aethrinsula; (28) S. chapina; (29) S. cristata; (30) S. durango; (31) S. gigantea; (32) S. hawksi; (33) S. marmorata; (34) S. metcalfi; (35) S. monzoni.

FIGURES 42–50. Heads and nota of Scaralina species. (42) S. aethrinsula; (43) S. chapina; (44) S. cristata; (45) S. durango; (46) S. gigantea; (47) S. hawksi; (48) S. marmorata; (49) S. metcalfi; (50) S. monzoni.

FIGURES 57–62. Forewings of Scaralina species. (57) S. aethrinsula; (58) S. chapina; (59) S. cristata; (60) S. durango; (61) S. gigantea; (62) S. hawksi.