Eucyphonia festiva Rodríguez-Serrano & Forero, 2019

Rodríguez-Serrano, Juanita & Forero, Dimitri, 2019, A remarkable new species of Eucyphonia (Hemiptera: Membracidae) from Boyacá, Colombia, Zootaxa 4577 (3), pp. 494-500 : 495-498

Eucyphonia festiva Rodríguez-Serrano & Forero , sp. nov.

urn:lsdi:zoobank.org:act:5A7562BC- 4370-8D6B-1750F0AA73DC

Diagnosis. Overall coloration bright orange-yellow with black markings above ocelli, on metopidium, at vertical ramus of suprahumeral processes, apex of medial process of pronotum, base of medial spine of posterior process of pronotum, and apex of globular portion of lateral branches of posterior process; forewing with some black markings between crossveins. Pronotum with vertical ramus of suprahumeral process globular, basally with long lateral sharp spine; posterolateral margin tumid; lateral branches of posterior process with ovate basal section reaching almost two thirds length of medial posterior spine.

Description. Female. Coloration: Bright orange-yellow overall with symmetrical black markings ( Fig. 1A ). Head with pair of black markings over ocelli; thorax with pair of black markings on metopidium ( Fig. 1B ), at latero-ventral base of suprahumeral process and at tip of vertical ramus, on anteromedial small concave area of posterolateral margin, apex of medial process of pronotum, base of medial spine of posterior process of pronotum, and apex of globular portion of lateral branches of posterior process; forewing with black spots between intersections of basal Cu cell, first and third discoidal, as well as between first, second and third discoidal cell ( Figs. 1B , 2B ); metatibia with black apical ring ( Fig. 1B ); abdomen grayish, light yellow between each of sternal segments reaching pleural region ( Fig. 1B ).

Structure: Head: Head width across eyes less than distance between pronotal humeri; frontoclypeus without distinct lateral lobes. Thorax: Pronotal surface smooth, shiny, covered with sparse, long setae. Pronotum with suprahumeral processes (sh) with vertical ramus globular and tumescent, lateral ramus about two times as long as width of vertical ramus, apically sharp and directed laterad in dorsal view( Fig. 1B ), moderately elevated in anterior view ( Fig. 2A ); posterolateral margin (pm) tumid, laterally broadly rounded ( Fig. 1B ); medial process (mp) short, hump-like, directed upward ( Fig. 2B ); medial base of posterior process swollen, lateral branches (lb) of posterior process basally ovate, subglobular, apically very narrow ( Fig. 2B ), reaching almost two thirds length of medial spine; medial spine curved downwards, reaching nearly to apex of forewings (broken in holotype, but clearly visible in live specimen, Fig. 2C ). Forewing: Same as described for Ceresini ( Kopp & Yonke, 1979) . Abdomen: Surface smooth ( Fig. 3A ). Genitalia: Pygofer surface smooth, ventral margin with long, strong setae ( Figs. 3A, B ); pair of foveae dorsally towards apex. Gonoplac uniformly broad on apical half, apex rounded, ventral margin with macrosetae ( Fig. 3C ). First valvula gently curved upward, narrowing towards apex; ramus extending to about midlength of valvula, more sclerotized basally; dorsal sculptured area extending to base of valvula, ornate with oblique integumental lines ( Fig. 3D ), apex gently sinuous and tapering apically ( Fig. 3F ); ventral sculptured area restricted to apical third of valvula, divided into two portions interrupted by a glabrous area, basal portion ornate with oblique, fine lines, apical portion short, with irregular, nearly perpendicular lines ( Fig. 3F ). Second valvula more strongly sclerotized than first, gently curved upward, of uniform width, tapering apically, apex shortly rounded; dorsal margin smooth, serrate on apical fifth ( Fig. 3E ), denticles triangular ( Fig. 3G ); apical half with irregular ducts and pores ( Fig. 3G ); ramus reaching apex of valvulae, of nearly equal width ( Fig. 3E ).

Measurements: Total length (head to apex of forewing): 6.07; length from head to abdomen apex: 4.77; head length: 0.93; head width: 2.13; distance between ocelli: 0.39; length of pronotum up to apex of lateral branch of posterior process: 4.84; distance between apex of lateral rami of suprahumeral processes: 3.21; distance between apex of medial processes: 0.62; distance between apex of lateral branches of posterior process: 2.98.

Male. Unknown.

Type Material. Holotype Female. COLOMBIA. Boyacá, Santa María, Sendero Hyca Quye , ~ 5.5km NW de Santa María, 4,89811°N 73,29344°W, 900m, 7–11 March 2016, J. Rodríguez / sobre Piper sp. / MPUJ _ ENT 0019903 / Holotype Eucyphonia festiva sp. nov. Rodríguez-Serrano & Forero 2019.

Distribution. Eucyphonia festiva sp. nov. is only known from its type locality in Santa María, Boyacá, in Colombia, located on the eastern slope of the Eastern Cordillera, and adjacent to the Orinoco region. This new species represents the first record of Eucyphonia from Colombia. Interestingly, no species of Eucyphonia have been reported from west of the Andes, unlike some of the species of Cyphonia ( Sakakibara, 1968) .

Plant associations. The new species was found associated with Piper sp. ( Piperaceae ). This is the first time a plant association has been reported for any species of Eucyphonia . Further field efforts should assess the validity of this single observation.

Etymology. The name is taken from the Latin “ festivus ” meaning excellent or fine, in order to highlight the joyful coloration of black markings over the bright yellow dorsum. This color pattern is characteristic of the new species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Structural details of Eucyphonia festiva sp. nov. A) Dorsal view. B) Lateral view. Scale 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Structural details of Eucyphonia festiva sp. nov. A) Frontal view. B) Oblique view. C) Live specimen (photo courtesy of A. Pinzón 2016). Scale 1 mm. Abbreviations: (lb) lateral branches of posterior process; (met) metopidium; (mp) medial process; (ms) posterior medial spine; (oc) ocelli; (pm) posterolateral margin of pronotum; (sh) suprahumeral processes.

FIGURE 3. Abdomen and female genitalia of Eucyphonia festiva sp. nov. A–B) Dissected abdomen; A) lateral left view, B) ventral view. C–G) Ovipositor, lateral left view; C) gonoplac, D) first valvula, E) second valvula, F) detail of apex of first valvula, G) detail of apex of second valvula.