Neozygina veracruzensis, Dietrich & Dmitriev, 2007

Dietrich, C. H. & Dmitriev, D. A., 2007, Revision of the New World leafhopper genus Neozygina Dietrich & Dmitriev (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Erythroneurini), Zootaxa 1475, pp. 27-42 : 37

Neozygina veracruzensis n. sp.

( Figs. 1Q, 3U–W)

Diagnosis. Length of male 2.5 mm. Ground color stramineous infused with brown; anteclypeus and abdominal terga brown; crown spots, mesonotal triangles, and mesosternum dark brown; forewing with red longitudinal streak in clavus and another along vein Cu in basal half. Pygofer ( Fig. 3U) with dorsal appendage arising near apex, very slender, straight, not reaching distal margin; ventral appendage short, relatively broad, extended dorsomesad then curved dorsolaterad; lobe between appendages narrowly rounded, well sclerotized except near margin. Aedeagus ( Figs. 3V, W) with shaft narrowly J-shaped, apex compressed, falcate in lateral view; distal processes arising distad of gonopore, sinuately curved posteroventrad, crossing each other medially near apex.

Material examined. Holotype male, MEXICO: Veracruz, rt. 180, km#31, 17 km NW Alvarado, 0m, 18°50’N, 95°58’W, 28 October 2001 (C.H. Dietrich, sweep/vac, 01-036-01) [ INHS].

Notes. The type series was collected by vacuuming and sweeping low-growing sand dune vegetation along the Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico. The male genitalia of this species resemble those of N. balli Beamer , but the dorsal pygofer appendage is much more slender and elongate, the ventral appendage is longer, and the aedeagal shaft is much longer and nearly straight through most of its length. The coloration of the new species is also distinctive. The forewing of N. veracruzensis has reddish streaks only along vein Cu and in the clavus; N. balli has more extensive areas of reddish pigment covering nearly the entire basal half of the wing.