Rhaeboepelis, Ruschel & Sanborn, 2021

Ruschel, Tatiana P. & Sanborn, Allen F., 2021, Two new genera and species of Fidicinini Distant, 1905 with a re-description of Nosola Stål, 1866 (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadidae), Zootaxa 4920 (4), pp. 509-527 : 521-522

Rhaeboepelis n. gen.

( Figs. 8–9 )

Type species. Rhaeboepelis takiyaae n. gen., n. sp.

Species included. Rhaeboepelis takiyaae n. gen., n. sp.

Remarks. The genus has a similar appearance to Proarna but differs from all species of that genus in the shape of the opercula and genitalia.

Etymology. The name is a combination of Rhaebo - (Gr. rhaibos, bent, crooked) and – epelis (Gr. epelis, cover, lid) in reference to the sinuous posterior margin of the male operculum. The genus is feminine.

Description. Head wider than mesonotum. Eyes protruding beyond anterior pronotum, lateral margin of eye wider than anterolateral margin of pronotal collar. Vertex at area of ocelli longer than front, front angled ventrally between vertex and frontoclypeal suture. Ocellus well developed, lateral ocelli closer to each other than to eyes, higher than median ocellus in frontal view, ocular tubercle well developed. Supra–antennal plates slightly prominent relative to anterior margin of head, reaching half distance to eyes ( Fig. 8B ). Postclypeus slightly more prominent than anterior margin of head, anterior margin arched in dorsal view, central sulcus narrow ( Fig. 8B ), sub-rectangular in ventral view ( Fig. 8C ), ventral margin straight in lateral view. Anteclypeus ventral surface with lateroposterior margins forming an acute angle, posterolateral flaps absent ( Fig. 8C ). Labium long, reaching abdominal sternite II ( Fig. 8D ). Pronotal collar narrow in dorsal view, lateral angle expanding, projected laterally, lateral margin slightly convex, narrow, wider than lateral margin of mesonotum ( Fig. 8B ). Mesonotum covering dorsal metanotum ( Fig. 8A ). Cruciform elevation with central area swollen, lateral areas flat, posterior arms almost transversely oriented, posterior margin slightly emarginated ( Fig. 8A ). Anterior basisternum 3 obtusely angled, not prominent relative to mesocoxae ( Fig. 8D ). Three segmented tarsi. Wings hyaline, forewings narrow, about 3.25 longer than broad, costal margin curved, radial and radiomedial crossveins not parallel, apical cell 2 about half-length of apical cell 1, pterostigma present ( Fig. 8A ). Male operculum sub-triangular with posterolateral extension, lateral and posterior margins sinuous, opercula not meeting medially ( Fig. 8E ). Meracanthus an elongated triangle, not reaching half operculum length ( Fig. 8E ). Male abdomen subcylindrical, segment 2 widest, subsequent segments narrower than preceding segment, tergite 1 narrow, anterodorsal region covered by cruciform elevation ( Fig. 8A ).Timbal cover flat, incomplete, timbal exposed dorsolaterally ( Fig. 8F ). Male sternite I twice as long as metacoxae, swollen ( Fig.8D ), sternite VII sub–rectangular ( Fig. 8G ). Pygofer distal shoulder anterior margin terminating in acute projection; dorsal beak absent; pygofer upper lobe absent; pygofer basal lobe well-developed ( Fig. 9C ). Uncus longer than basal lobe in lateral view, uncal dorsal crest flattened, divided medially; lateral branches of uncus with distal margin arched and apex directed anteriorly; ventral apophyses formed from lateral branches of uncus fused ( Fig. 9A, B ). Theca tubular opened medially, apex with long, slender vesica, cornuti present, spine of vesica present, thecal and vesical processes absent ( Fig. 9D, E ). Female is unknown.

Measurements (mm). Length of body: 18.45; length of forewing: 26.35; width of forewing: 8.10; length of head: 1.81; width of head including eyes: 6.50; width of pronotum including suprahumeral plates: 6.50; width of mesonotum: 6.10.

Diagnosis. The genus can be distinguished from all other genera in Fidicinini by the following combination of characters: head including eyes broader than mesonotum; eyes protruding beyond anterior pronotum, postclypeus with dorsal surface tumid, lateroposterior margins forming an acute angle, anteclypeus posterolateral flaps absent, longitudinal groove slender; labium long, reaching sternite II; anterior basisternum 3 obtusely angled, not prominent relative to mesocoxae; male operculum sub-triangular with posterolateral extension, lateral and posterior margins sinuous; three segmented tarsi; uncal dorsal crest divided medially and projected posteriorly; lateral branches of uncus with distal margin arched and apex anteriorly directed; theca a long tube opened medially, thecal and vesical processes absent, cornuti present, spine of vesica present. Lateral branches of uncus with distal margin arched similar to Prasinosoma fuembuenai Torres, 1963 , however the new genus differs in the expanded and unparallel lateral margin of pronotal collar, eyes protruding beyond the anterior pronotum, and the uncal dorsal crest being divided medially, all of which differ from the Prasinosoma Torres, 1963 species. The operculum shape appears to be unique in the Fidicinini .

Distribution. Puntarenas ( Costa Rica).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Rhaeboepelis takiyaae n. gen., n. sp. A, holotype male specimen in dorsal habitus; B, head, pronotum and part of mesonotum in dorsal view; C, head in ventral view; D, thorax in ventral view; E, right operculum in latero-ventral view; F, timbal cover in latero-ventral view; G, sternites VII and VIII in ventral view. Abbreviations: basisternum 3 (bs3), operculum (op), tergite (t), timbal cover (tc), timbal (tim), sternite (st). Scale bar = A, 1 cm; B–D, G, 2 mm; E, F, 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Rhaeboepelis takiyaae n. gen., n. sp., male genitalia. A, uncus in ventral view; B, uncus in lateral view; C, pygofer in latero-ventral view; D, phallus in left view; E, phallus in right view.Abbreviations: aedeagus (aed), anal styles (as), basal lobe (bl), cornuti (cor), distal shoulder (ds), lateral branches of uncus (lbu), spine of vesica (sv); theca (th), uncal dorsal crest (udc), uncus (un), ventral apophyses (va), vesica (ve). Scale bar = A, B, 0.5 mm; C, 1 mm; D, E, 0.2 mm.