Tenucephalus takiyae, 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 : 127

Tenucephalus takiyae n. sp.

( Figs. 80–81 , 84 )

Diagnosis. T. takiyae can be distinguished from other species of the genus by a combination of the typical color pattern, male pygofer dorsal process tapered toward apex, connective-aedeagus with pair of long basal processes, connective-aedeagus with an additional unpaired symmetrical process arising dorsad of shaft base, and aedeagus shaft very long and narrow in lateral view and without accessory processes.

Body. Male, 5.1–5.2 mm. Female, 6.0–6.2 to wing apex, 7.0– 7.1 mm to ovipositor tip.

Color. With the typical color pattern.

Male. Pygofer length including process more than 3x median height in lateral view; ventral margin incised below membranous cleft; with patch of ~15 very long macrosetae situated ~3/4 length from base; with dorsoapical process broad basally, tapering to digitate apex. Valve triangular; width less than 2x median length. Subgenital plate very long, lateral margin concave; with single row of ~12 long macrosetae situated near lateral margin along basal 1/2, encroaching across plate toward median margin along apical 1/2; with numerous long fine setae laterally. Style long; preapical lobe short, sharply and acutely angled; apophysis falcate, apex sharply pointed. Connectiveaedeagus with symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base, processes very long, extending well beyond aedeagus apex, curved throughout length, apices sinuate in lateral view, dorsal margins at apex with minute teeth; with unpaired, falcate symmetrical process arising dorsad of base of aedeagus, about equal in length to aedeagus, thicker in lateral view. Aedeagus very narrow, vermiform; gonopore apical. Lightly sclerotized bulbous lobes of phragma with setae throughout. Segment X mostly membranous, slightly sclerotized ventrally.

Female. Ovipositor extremely long, extending very far beyond pygofer apex. Sternite VII relatively large, width much less than 2x median length; posteriorly chevron-shaped, produced medially. Sternite VIII mostly membranous, lightly sclerotized laterally at base; extending anterad of stVII anterior margin as arcuate fold membranous integument.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, PERU: Madre de Dios, Manu: Pakitza , 12°7”S 70°58’W, 250 m., 14–23-IX-1988, O. Flint & N. Adams, Trail 2 1st stream, Malaise trap, day & night [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 12♀, same data as holotype . 2♀, same data as holotype except 9–14-IX-1988, trail 2 . 1♀, PERU, Madre de Dios, Manu, Pakitza , 11°56’S 71°18’W, 250m ., 12–18-IX-1989, kitchen stream, malaise trap, night collection, N. Adams et al. 2♀, PERU: Cusco, Est. Biol. Villa Carmen , trail 4 & old road jct., WPB-14, 12.89402°S 71.40402°W, 540m, mal- aise trap, 25–26-I-2013, B.D. Sutton, G.J. Steck, & A.L. Norrbom . 6♀, PERU: Madre de Dios, Rio Tambopata Res. , 30 air km SW Pto. Maldonado, 290m, 6–10-XI-1979, J.B. Heppner, subtropical moist forest . 1♀, PERU: Cusco, Pilcopata , 8–10-XII-1979, J.B. Heppner, premontane moist forest . 1♂, 1♀, PERU: Cusco, 3 rd. km. E Quincemil , 13°13’03”S 70°43’40”W, 644m, 20-VIII-2012, light, A.P.M. Santos & D.M. Takiya . 1♀, BRAZIL: AM, Ipixuna, Rio Liberdade, Com. Santa Catarina, 7°19’46”S 71°50’46”W, 169m, 10-V-2011, light, Cavichioli, Goncalves, & Takiya. [ USNM, DZRJ, INPA, MUSM]

Etymology. I take the utmost pleasure in naming this species in honor of my good friend and fellow leafhopper systematist, Dr. Daniela Takiya (DZRJ).

Distribution. T. takiyae is known from the Madre de Dios region of Peru and is the only species of the genus known so far from the Brazilian Amazon forest.

Figures

FIGUIRE 80. Tenucephalus takiyae n. sp. (A–B, D–H, J) standard views. A & B, female paratype from Peru, E of Qunicemil; D–H, male paratype from Peru, E of Quincemil. J, paratype from Brazil, Amazonas. aed = aedeagus; psp = paired symmetrical process of connective-aedeagus; udp = unpaired dorsal process of connective-aedeagus.

FIGUIRE 81. Tenucephalus takiyae n. sp., SEM images. (Q) face. (R) detail of face and antennal base. (S) detail of clypellus and lorum. (T) detail of crown. (U) female pygofer and ovipositor, ventrolateral view. (V) detail of gonoplac and exposed valvulae. (W) detail of first valvula (minute brochosome particles also visible).

FIGUIRE 84. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. and Virganana danasensis in northwestern South America.