Sofiella, Domahovski & Alasmar & Cavichioli, 2023

Domahovski, Alexandre Cruz, Alasmar, Luísa & Cavichioli, Rodney Ramiro, 2023, The genus Sofiella gen. nov. (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellini) with description of two new species from Brazil, Zootaxa 5318 (4), pp. 571-579 : 572-573

Sofiella gen. nov.

( Figs 1–31 )

Type-species: Sofiella takiyae sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Small sharpshooters ( Figs 1–6 , 22–24 ), about 4 to 6 mm in length, with variegated color patterns. Pronotum ( Figs 1–6 , 22–24 ) with humeral width slightly narrower than transocular width oh head. Male pygofer ( Figs 7 , 25 ) without processes. Valve ( Figs 8 , 26 ) very short, strap-like. Subgenital plate ( Figs 8 , 26 ) expanded and rounded on basal third. Connective ( Figs 9, 10 , 27, 28 ), in lateral view, with dorsal keel very large. Style ( Figs 9 , 27 ) short, broad. Aedeagus ( Figs 12, 13 , 30, 31 ) with pair of apical processes. Paraphyses ( Figs 11 , 29 ) with one or two pairs of rami. Female genitalia with sternite VII ( Figs 14, 15 ) produced posterad; posterior margin triangular. Second ovipositor valvula ( Figs 18–20 ) with dorsal and ventral margins subparallel, with few long, not prominent teeth; apex obliquely truncate with well developed preapical prominence.

Description. Head ( Figs 1–6 , 22–24 ) with crown slightly produced anteriorly, without sculpturing, setae or median fovea; median length from seven-tenths of interocular width and four-tenths of transocular width; anterior margin broadly rounded in dorsal view, without carina at transition from crown to face. Epicranial suture almost indistinct (more distinct in females) and with a slight concavity between ocelli and inner margin of eyes. Frontogenal suture extending onto crown and attaining ocelli. Ocelli located before imaginary line between eye angles, each equidistant from adjacent eye angle and median line of crown. Antennal ledges not protuberant dorsally; laterally not carinated and slightly oblique. Frons ( Figs 3, 6 , 24 ) slightly convex laterally, flattened medially and with surface finely granular; muscle impressions strongly distinct. Epistomal suture complete (visible in females). Clypeus continuous along the frons contour, without pubescence and with apical margin rounded.

Thorax ( Figs 1, 2, 4, 5 , 22, 23 ) with pronotal width slightly narrower than transocular width; lateral pronotal margins slightly convergent anteriorly; posterior margin almost rectilinear; dorsopleural carinae complete and shorter than lateroposterior margin; disk finely striate medially. Mesonotum with scutellum without sculpture behind transversal groove. Forewings with coriaceous texture and an apical membrane comprising first and second apical cells; apical margin rounded; veins distinct, with four apical cells, base of fourth and second apical cells more proximal than base of third; three anteapical cells closed, base of outer and median more proximal than base of inner; R 1 vein present; without anteapical plexus of veins; forewings of females at rest exceeding apex of ovipositor. Hind wings with R 2+3 incomplete. Hind legs with femoral count 2:1:1; first tarsomere with two parallel rows of small setae on plantar surface and longer than the combinate length of the two distal tarsomeres.

Male genitalia. Male pygofer ( Figs 7 , 25 ) simple, without processes. Anal tube (segment X) without groups of setae on ventral surface. Valve ( Figs 8 , 26 ) very short, strap-like. Subgenital plates ( Figs 8 , 26 ) expanded and rounded on basal third, fused to each other near base by a small triangular membranous area; outer margin with a single row of macrosetae and few intercalary filiform setae near base. Style ( Figs 9 , 27 ) short, broad, with well developed preapical lobe bearing group of long setae. Connective ( Figs 9, 10 , 27, 28 ) small, Y-shaped, with strongly developed dorsal keel. Aedeagus ( Figs 12, 13 , 30, 31 ) with pair of apical processes. Paraphyses ( Figs 11 , 29 ) with four or two rami.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII ( Figs 14, 15 ) produced posterad; posterior margin triangular. Second ovipositor valvula ( Figs 18–20 ) with dorsal and ventral margins subparallel, with few long, not prominent teeth; apex obliquely truncate with well developed preapical prominence.

Etymology. The generic name is feminine, in honor of Sofia, daughter of Prof. Dr. Daniela Maeda Takiya, with the suffix “iella” (diminutive suffix).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Sofiella takiyae sp. nov. 1–3, male holotype. 1, Body, dorsal view. 2, Body, lateral view. 3, Face, frontal view. 4–6, female paratype. 4, Body, dorsal view. 5, Body, lateral view. 6, Face, frontal view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 7–13. Sofiella takiyae sp. nov., male genitalia. 7, Genital capsule, lateral view. 8, Valve and subgenital plates, ventral view. 9, Connective and style, dorsal view. 10, Connective and paraphyses, lateral view. 11, Paraphyses, ventral view. 12, Aedeagus, lateral view. 13, Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 14–21. Sofiella takiyae sp. nov., female terminalia. 14, Distal portion of abdomen, ventral view. 15, Distal portion of abdomen, lateral view. 16, First valvifer and first valvula, lateral view. 17. Apical portion of first valvula. 18–20, Second valvula. 18, Lateral view. 19, Teeth at basal portion. 20, Apical portion. 21, Second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 22–24. Sofiella nicolasi sp. nov., male holotype. 22, Body, dorsal view. 23, Body, lateral view. 24, Face, frontal view. Scale bars in mm.

FIGURES 25–31. Sofiella nicolasi sp. nov., male genitalia. 25, Genital capsule, lateral view (dotted portion indicates lost area). 26, Valve and subgenital plates, ventral view. 27, Connective and style, dorsal view. 28, Connective and paraphyses, lateral view. 29, Paraphyses, ventral view. 30, Aedeagus, lateral view. 31, Aedeagus, ventral view. Scale bars in mm.