Monteira ameliae, Constant, 2015

Constant, Jérôme, 2015, Review of the genus Monteira Melichar, 1906 with a new species from Namibia (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Nogodinidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 31, pp. 1-14 : 1-14

Monteira ameliae sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 4 , 6

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet refers to a new small and cute inhabitant of Kuzikus Wildlife Reserve, Amelie Luisa, the young daughter of my friends Johanna Reinhard, the leader of BRinK and David Schimrosczyk of the Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype ♂ (dissected): Namibia: [Coll. I. R. Sc.N.B., Namibia, Kuzikus W. R., 23°14’17.2”S 18°23’28.8”E, under grass 11.IV.2011, I.G. 31.840 Leg J. Constant] ( RBINS).

DIAGNOSIS. The species is easily separated from all others in the genus by its small size (4 mm vs more than 6 mm). It can also be separated from M. upembensis by the presence of dark markings inside the cells of the tegmina, and from M. cornicula by the regularly rounded costal margin of the tegmina.

However, the examination of the male genitalia should be used to recognize the species of the genus (see Fig. 4 ).

DESCRIPTION

Measurements and ratios ♂ (n = 1): LT = 4.00 mm; LTg/BTg = 1.79; BV/LV = 5.44; BF/LF = 0.92.

Head: vertex and frons yellowish grey-brown; sides dark brown with yellow transverse markings on genae; clypeus yellowish with lateral blackish markings; antennae brown-black. Frons slightly convex, elongate with median carina, sides parallel and dorsal margin strongly emarginate. Clypeus longer than broad with median carina. Vertex broader than long, deeply grooved in middle and with anterior margin strongly emarginate. Labium elongate and narrow, reaching metatrochanters, with apical segment about half as long as penultimate. Antennae with scape very short and pedicel cylindrical, 1.5 times longer than broad. Ocelli absent.

Thorax: pronotum yellowish grey-brown, slightly concave in middle, with anterior margin rounded and obsolete median carina; posterior margin concave. Mesonotum yellowish grey-brown with obsolete median carina, slightly longer than pronotum. Tegulae yellowish grey-brown.

Tegmina: yellowish brown with veins and small markings in cells blackish brown; pale yellow line on clavus along claval suture, broadened in middle and margined with black. Elongate and strongly rounded laterally, as long as broad taken together in dorsal view. Numerous cross-veins resulting in reticulum; cells smaller along posterior and lateral margins. Tegmina slightly impressed basally on costal area, rounded apically. Hypocostal plate narrow, extending to level of mesotrochanters.

Hind wings: grey-brown, strongly reduced.

Legs: variegated pale yellow and grey-brown; posterior legs mainly pale yellow; rather short. Pro- and mesotibiae elongate and narrow. Metatibiae broadening from base to apex, with 3-4 lateral spines and 10 apical spines, pale yellow-brown; spines brown apically. First metatarsomere elongate, broad and deeply excavate apically, with small pad of microsetae ventrally and strong curved spine on each side. Second metatarsomere short and broad, deeply excavate apically, with strong curved spine at each side and small pad of microsetae ventrally. Metatibiotarsal formula: (3-4) 10/2/2.

Male genitalia: ( Fig. 4 ) pygofer higher than long in lateral view, with anterior margin slightly sinuate and posterior margin with strong rounded projection in middle. Anal tube elongate with strong ventral projection ventrally on each side at 1/3 and apex hook-shaped; apical 2/3 strongly concave ventrally and with vertical narrow indention apically; apical 2/3 oval in dorsal view; basal 1/3 subrectangular, broader than long in dorsal view. Gonostyli elongate and narrow in lateral view, rounded apically and with strong tooth projecting dorsointernally on dorsal margin, near apex. Aedeagus strongly curved in lateral view, with a series of simple, elongate and narrow processes.

BIOLOGY. The biotope is a savannah (ca 1000 m asl.) dominated by the grasses Aristida L. spp. and Stipagrostis uniplumis (Licht.) De winter (both Poaceae ), and with some Acacia erioloba E. Mey. trees and Acacia hebeclada DC. shrubs (both Fabaceae ). The specimen was collected at the base of an Aristida tuft which was uprooted and dismantled to search for insects (see also CONSTANT & GAPON, 2011).

DISTRIBUTION. Recorded from the Kalahari Desert in Namibia ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Fig. 1 A-F. Monteira ameliae sp. nov. Holotype ♂. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, habitus, ventral view. C, habitus, lateral view. D, head and thorax, normal view of frons. E, label. F, habitus, frontal view.

Fig. 4 A-E. Monteira ameliae sp. nov., holotype, male genitalia. A, pygofer, anal tube and gonostylus, left lateral view. B, anal tube, dorsal view. C, anal tube, posterior view. D, aedeagus, left lateral view. E, aedeagus, posterior view. An: anal tube; G: gonostylus; Py: pygofer.

Fig. 6. Distribution map of the species of Monteira.