3.3.1. Acuera DeLong & Freytag

Figs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Type species.

Gypona adspersa Stål, 1854: 252.

Diagnosis.

Medium size leafhoppers (10.0-14.5 mm). Crown, pronotum and mesonotum (Figs 8A, 10A) with black punctures. Head, in dorsal view (Figs 8A, 10A), moderately produced anterad, slightly longer than half interocular width; transocular width less than 8 tenths of humeral width of pronotum; anterior margin subacute; crown surface slightly convex, with transverse striae between ocelli; ocellus closer to inner margin of eye than to midline. Head, in lateral view (Figs 8C, 10C), crown-face transition thin, texture smooth medially and with striae near eye margin. Face (Figs 8B, 10B) with frons usually black on middle portion, without black punctures and with transverse black or brown bands over muscular impressions. Forewing (Figs 8D, 10D) densely covered by anastomosed black maculae; central anteapical cell with cross vein near half length; appendix reduced. Pygofer, in dorsal view (Figs 8g, 10g), apical portion of dorsal margin with processes directed inward. Subgenital plate (Fig. 8H, 10H) with or without long filiform setae. Connective (Fig. 8I) T or Y-shaped, with stem present, but short. Aedeagus (Figs 8L, 10L) with or without apodemal processes. Ovipositor (Figs 9C, 9E) slender. First and second valvulae (Figs 9C, E, 12C, E) not or only slightly broadened on median third. Second valvula (Figs 9E, 12E) dorsal protuberance when present, reduced and subacute, located before half length of blade; dorsal margin with very small teeth, with approximately regular sizes, present on apical half; ventral margin with denticles on apical portion.

Coloration.

Head and thorax (Figs 15, 16) background yellowish-brown. Crown, pronotum and mesonotum (Figs 8A, 10A) with many black punctures. Face (Figs 8B, 10B) with frons usually black on middle portion and without black punctures, with transverse black or brown bands over muscular impressions; lorum with black punctures; gena frequently with pair of black maculae, one near mid-length of ventral margin and one near ventral corner of eye. Proepimeron (Figs 8C, 10C) with black band below pronotal carina and/or black punctures. Forewing (Figs 8D, 10D) densely covered by anastomosed black maculae. Profemur, with black punctures and pair of black maculae, one at base and one on apical third. Metatibia (Fig. 15B, H) with cucullate bases of setae blacks.

Description.

Head, in dorsal view (Fig. 8A), moderately produced anterad, median length slightly longer than half interocular width; transocular width 7.2-7.8 tenths of pronotum humeral width; anterior margin subacute; crown surface with oblique striae between ocelli; ocellus equidistant between anterior and posterior margins of crown and closer to inner margin of eye than to midline. Head, in frontal view (Fig. 8B), face wider than high; frons 1.5 × longer than wide, texture shagreen, surface just below crown-face transition not excavated; frontogenal suture distant from eye margin by half maximum width of clypeus and extending to anterior margin of crown; supra-antennal lobe carinated and oblique, advancing over frons by short distance; gena with ventrolateral margin slightly rounded; maxillary plate produced ventrally as far as clypeus apex; clypeus longer than wide; lateral margins straight, parallel or slightly divergent toward apex; apex weakly emarginated. Head, in lateral view (Fig. 8C), crown-face transition thin, not foliaceous, texture smooth medially and with striae near eye margin; anterior margin of crown slightly projected over anterior margin of eye; frons and clypeus not inflated. Pronotum, in dorsal view (Fig. 8A), with transverse striae on disc and posterior third; lateral margins as long or slightly longer than eye length; posterior margin weakly excavated; in lateral view (Fig. 8C), moderately declivous, continuous with head declivity. Mesonotum (Fig. 8A) slightly wider than long; scutellum (Fig. 8C) not swollen. Forewing (Fig. 8D) M vein with segment after the divergence between R+M and before the cross vein m-cu 1 more than 3 × longer than the length of m-cu 1; central anteapical cell with cross vein near half length; appendix reduced, bordering first to second apical cells; apex rounded. Profemur moderately elongated, 3.5 × longer than wide; AD, AM, and PD rows reduced and poorly defined, with exception of apical setae AD1, AM1, and PD1, respectively; IC row formed by slightly arched comb of fine setae, beginning at distal half of femur and extending to AM1; AV and PV rows with 3-5 setae. Protibia, in cross-section semi-circular, dorsal surface with longitudinal carina adjacent to PD row; AV row formed by long setae, slightly longer and thicker towards apex; dorsal rows with apical AD1 and PD1 setae developed; AD row without differentiated setae; PD row with 3 setae; PV row with 5-7 setae. Mesotibia with dorsal surface carinate. Metafemur with setal formula 2:2:1. Metatibia with AD row without intercalary setae between macrosetae, or if present, only 1-2 intercalary setae between each macrosetae; PV row with setae of apical half formed by sequence of a longer and thicker seta, interspersed with 2-4 thinner and shorter setae, ending with a long and thick seta. Metatarsomere I ventral surface with two rows of non-cucullate setae; outer row with setae reduced in size; inner row with 8-12 setae; pecten with 4-6 platellae, flanked by one inner and one outer tapered seta. Metatarsomere II pecten with 2-4 platellae, flanked by two inner and one outer tapered seta.

Male terminalia.

Pygofer, in lateral view (Figs 8G, 10G), without basodorsal processes; in dorsal view (Figs 8g, 19g), apical portion of dorsal margin with processes directed inward. Valve (Figs 8F, 10F) without pair of oblique submedian integument thickening. Anal tube membranous, without processes. Subgenital plate (Figs 8H, 10H) with or without long filiform setae. Connective (Fig. 8I) T or Y-shaped, with stem present, but short. Aedeagus (Fig. 8L) with or without apodemal processes; shaft with or without apical or subapical processes.

Female terminalia.

Pygofer (Figs 9A, B, 12A, B) with macrosetae distributed on posteroventral quadrant and dorsoapical third. Ovipositor slender. First valvula (Figs 9C, 12C) not or only slightly broadened on median third; dorsal sculptured area strigate, beginning on half length of blade; ventral interlocking device distinct on basoventral third; apex (Figs 9D, 12D) gradually tapered and acute. Second valvula (Figs 9E, 12E) not or weakly broadened on basal third; dorsal protuberance when present, reduced and subacute, located before half length of blade; dorsal margin with very small teeth, approximately regular sizes, present on apical third; ventral margin with denticles on apical portion; apex (Figs 9F, 12F) tapered and subacute. Second valvifer (Figs 9G, 12G) 3 × longer than wide. Gonoplac (Figs 9G, 12G) posterodorsal margin straight, about 4 tenths of blade length; external surface with dentiform cuticular projections; ventral margin broadly rounded with few short setae; apex (Figs 9H, 12H) slightly tapered and rounded.

Distribution.

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Panamá and Peru.

Remarks.

With the proposed taxonomic changes, and the description of two new species, Acuera now comprise 10 species with distribution mainly on South America. Acuera luhea is the only species known from the Central America, collected on trees of Luehea seemannii Planch. & Triana ( Malvaceae), representing the only know record of host plant for Acuera (DeLong and Wolda, 1982).