Acuera extenuata, Domahovski & Cavichioli, 2023

Domahovski, Alexandre Cruz & Cavichioli, Rodney Ramiro, 2023, Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the leafhopper genus Acuera DeLong & Freytag (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Gyponini) based on morphological data, Arthropod Systematics & amp; Phylogeny 81, pp. 79-164 : 79

Acuera extenuata sp. nov.

Figs 10 , 15E, F

Diagnosis.

Coloration (Fig. 15E, F ) predominant yellowish-brown. Frons (Fig. 10B ) black except near lateral margins yellowish-brown. Pygofer, in dorsal view (Fig. 10g ), apex with a conic-shape process directed inward. Subgenital plate (Fig. 10H ) with long filiform setae. Aedeagus (Fig. 10L ) with apodemal processes short, weakly sclerotized, not surpassing shaft in lateral view; apex with pair of short hook-shaped processes, curved ventrally.

Measurements.

Total length: holotype male 11.2 mm; paratype, male (n = 1) 11.1 mm.

Description.

Metatibia AD row with 1-2 intercalary setae between each macrosetae; PD, AD and AV rows with 24-25, 12 and 16-19 macrosetae respectively. Metatarsomere I 3.5 × longer than apical width; pecten with 4-5 platellae. Metatarsomere II pecten with 2-3 platellae. Other characteristics as in generic description.

Coloration.

Head and thorax (Fig. 10A-C ) yellowish-brown. Crown, pronotum and mesonotum (Fig. 10A ) with many black punctures. Face (Fig. 10B ) with frons black on middle portion, faint transverse brown bands over muscular impressions; lorum with black punctures; gena with pair of black maculae, one near mid-length of ventral margin and one near ventral corner of eye; portion around antennal bases black; clypeus black. Proepimeron (Fig. 10C ) with black band below pronotal carina and black punctures. Forewing (Fig. 10D ) densely covered by anastomosed black maculae. Profemur, with black punctures and pair of black maculae, one at base and one on apical third. Metatibia (Fig. 10C ) with cucullate bases of setae blacks.

Male terminalia.

Sternite VIII (Fig. 10E ) 1.5 × wider than long; lateral margins parallel; posterior margin rounded. Valve (Fig. 10F ) 2.2 × wider than long; posterior margin produced medially and emarginated. Pygofer, in lateral view (Fig. 10G ), 2.2 × longer than maximum height; anteroventral margin straight; posterodorsal margin straight and oblique; posteroventral margin rounded; apex rounded; in dorsal view (Fig. 10g ), apex with a conic-shape process directed inward. Subgenital plate, in lateral view (Fig. 10G ), long, slightly surpassing pygofer apex; in ventral view (Fig. 10H ), elongated, 4.1 × longer than wide; dorsal surface with filiform setae near outer margin; lateral margins approximately parallel; apex rounded. Connective (Fig. 10I ) about as long as wide; anterior margin excavated; dorsal keel moderately developed; stem short, as long as wide. Style, in dorsal view (Fig. 10J ), with outer lobe developed and rounded; in lateral view (Fig. 10K ), blade long, slender at base and slightly broadened toward the subapical portion; ventral margin serrated on apical third; apical half strongly sigmoid; apex acute, slightly curved dorsally. Aedeagus (Fig. 10L, M ) preatrium reduced; dorsal apodeme not developed, dorsal margin straight, lateral margins not produced laterally; apodemal process digitiform and weakly sclerotized, short, about 1/3 length of shaft; shaft approximately triangular in cross section, long and weakly curved dorsally, posterior surface excavated; apex with pair of short hook-shaped processes, curved ventrally. Other characteristics as in generic description.

Female.

Unknown.

Material examined.

Holotype male: Brazil: Mato Grosso: " Brasil, MT, Novo Mundo, Pq. [Parque]\ Est. [ Estadual ] do Cristalino , 09.4517°S 55.8396°W, 240m, malaise,\ 21-25.vi.2017, Cavichioli,\ Melo, Domahovski & Muniz" (DZUP) . Paratype: 1♂, same data as holotype except “luminárias - alojamento AC Domahovski" (DZUP) .

Etymology.

The new species name refers to the apodemal processes of aedeagus weakly sclerotized, translucent apically.

Remarks.

Acuera extenuata sp. nov. was recovered as sister group of A. menaca + A. nigrifrons with moderate branch support (SR = 72) (Fig. 7 ) and supported by a single synapomorphy, 102:1, pygofer having a apical triangular-shape process directed inward. The style of the new species (Fig. 10K ) is more similar to species of the subgenus Acuera Tortusana , however the aedeagus have apodemal processes reduced and weakly sclerotized that apparently is an intermediate form between the absence of this structure in the subgenus Acuera Tortusana and the presence of processes longer and more sclerotized in the subgenus Acuera Acuera . The new species can be easily recognized by the pygofer (Fig. 10g ) with a conic-shape process directed inward; the subgenital plate (Fig. 10H ) with long filiform setae; the shape of the style (Fig. 10K ) with apex sigmoid; and the aedeagus (Fig. 10L ) with apodemal processes short and weakly sclerotized. Acuera extenuata sp. nov. is placed in the subgenus Acuera Acuera .

Figures

Figure 7. Phylogenetic relationships of Acuera found in the implied weighting analysis for the two equally most parsimonious trees, K = 3.700 and 4.284, length = 514, consistency index = 0.362, retention index = 0.771. Symmetric resampling values (<50) are marked next to branches; red stars represent the type species of the three subgenera of Acuera. Synapomorphies are marked with black circles, while homoplasies are marked with empty circles.

Figure 10. Acuera extenuata sp. nov., holotype male. A head and thorax, dorsal view. B head, ventral view. C head and thorax, lateral view. D forewing. E sternite VIII, ventral view. F valve, ventral view. G pygofer, valve and subgenital plate, lateral view; g apical portion of pygofer, dorsal view. H subgenital plate, ventral view. I connective, dorsal view. J style, dorsal view. K style, lateral view. L aedeagus, lateral view. M aedeagus, posterior view. Scale bars in mm.

Figure 15. Species of Acuera, dorsal (left) and lateral (right) views. A, B A. (Acuera) adspersa, male, DZUP. C, D A. (Acuera) culmena syn. nov., holotype male, USNM. E, F A. (Acuera) extenuata sp. nov., holotype male, DZUP. G, H A. (Acuera) incepta, male, DZUP. I, J A. (Acuera) laudara, holotype male, OSU. K, L A. (Acuera) levara, male, DZUP. M A. (Acuera) menaca, holotype male, AMNH.