Hespenedrini Jones, 2009

Jones, Joshua R. & Deitz, Lewis L., 2009, Phylogeny and systematics of the leafhopper subfamily Ledrinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) 2186, Zootaxa 2186 (1), pp. 1-120 : 29-30

Tribe Hespenedrini Jones , new tribe

Type genus Hespenedra Kramer 1966

Description. Moderately large leafhoppers. Dorsum texture acinose-colliculate, rugose, punctate. Head spatulate, more or less lamellate toward anterolateral margins; crown parabolic, longer in females than in males, flat; longitudinal medial carina complete; marginal carina complete or incomplete, sometimes converging into crown texture laterally; ocelli closer to each other than to eyes, equidistant from hind and anterior margins in male, distance to anterior margin in female greater; surface with depressions and pits, more so in females; several deep pits arranged in a row, or two rows in the female, running from ocellus to point where longitudinal carina meets crown apex; anterior margin of pronotum slightly overlapping posterior margin of crown, straight, except laterally near the eyes, where it angles posterolaterally; pronotum essentially flat, with some depressions; mesoscutum and scutellum flat; forewings punctate, setose, sharply angled at second claval vein; claval area punctate, flat, and in same plane with mesoscutum and scutellum; remaining portion of wings angled downward; claval suture strongly depressed; veins raised, reticulate; face flattened, somewhat convex; frontoclypeus narrow, long, with apical extension; base with cibarial muscle attachment ridges visible laterally; row of pits running adjacent to the frontoclypeus from antennal bases to point where longitudinal medial carina on frontoclypeus meets crown apex, corresponding to pits on dorsal surface of crown; lora somewhat tumid, slightly angulate, genae narrow; proepisternum large, quadrate, situated proximate to lateral edge of pronotum; lateral carina of pronotum distinct; femora round, short, somewhat robust, with setae reduced; mesothoracic femur row II apex with triangular patch of scalelike yellowish setae; metathoracic tibia with two short macrosetae mounted on a narrow, prominent base; apical macrosetal formula 2 + 1; pro- and mesotibia intermediately flattened; metathoracic tibia quadrate in cross section, outer surface flat with carinate edges, setal rows reduced, row II with approximately six macrosetae, all bases cucullate; metathoracic tarsomere I intermediately long, plantar surface bearing numerous short stout white setae. Male genitalia: aedeagus short, somewhat broad throughout length; intermediately wide in distal view, with a ventroapical groove; connective long and narrow, medial section thin in dorsal view, flat in lateral view; subgenital plates shorter than pygofer, dorsoventrally flattened basally, laterally compressed distally; anal tube broad in dorsal view. Female genitalia: broadest medially, with two sclerotized dorsal teeth and numerous other less sclerotized dorsal teeth.

Range. Neotropical.

Ecology. Unknown.

Remarks. Besides Xerophloeini , Hespenedrini represent the only extant ledrine tribe distributed in the New World. Szwedo (2002) postulated that Hespenedra belonged in Xerophloeini , but in this analysis it is shown to be clearly distinct within Ledrinae and much closer to Ledrini .

This tribe is monotypic, and includes Hespenedra .