Tenucephalus viperinus, Zahniser, 2021

Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, Zootaxa 4954 (1), pp. 1-160 : 131-132

Tenucephalus viperinus n. sp.

( Figs. 83 , 85 )

Diagnosis. T. viperinus can be distinguished from others in the genus by a combination of the typical color pattern, connective-aedeagus without a pair of basal processes and without unpaired dorsal process of aedeagus, aedeagal shaft strongly sinuate and asymmetrical in ventral or caudal view, and aedeagus with pair of apical processes.

Body. Male, 4.2 mm.

Color. With the typical color pattern. Forewing with very little brown shading along veins; costal margin bright yellow along basal 2/3; apex tinged with brown.

Male. Pygofer relatively robust; with numerous macrosetae on posterodorsal quarter; with numerous other short setae; dorsally incised nearly to base; without dorsal processes. Valve broad, wider than 2x median length; posterior margin rounded; anterior margin slightly produced medially. Subgenital plate triangular; with single row of 8–10 macrosetae laterally; with numerous other long fine setae laterally. Style preapical angle very slight; apophysis digitate, slightly curved. Connective anterior arms separated. Connective-aedeagus without symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base; without unpaired dorsal process of aedeagus. Aedeagus sinuate in ventral view; in lateral view obliquely U-shaped; with pair of slender apical process directed anteriorly, ~1/3 length of aedeagal shaft. Lobes of phragma membranous, with numerous short setae. Segment X membranous.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, ARGENTINA: Misiones , rt 211 36 km SE jct rt 12, 450m, 26°55’55”S 54°43’4”W, 5-I-2008 C.H. Dietrich, vacuum, AR5-1 [ MLPA].

Etymology. The adjectival species name refers to the snake-like aedeagus.

Distribution. This species is known only from Argentina, Misiones Prov.

Remarks. T. viperinus shares the same type locality with T. misiones .

Figures

FIGUIRE 83. Tenucephalus viperinus n. sp. (A–B, D–H) standard views; A & B, male holotype.

FIGUIRE 85. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. in eastern South America.