Ruppeliana robusta sp. nov.

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Figs 10–11

Diagnosis

Large sharpshooters, about 10 mm (Fig. 10A–B). Crown and frons black, mottled with yellow spots. Forewing green, with veins and apex brownish. Pygofer (Fig. 10D), in lateral view, strongly produced posteriorly, dorsal margin concave preapically, posterior margin rounded. Subgenital plate in lateral view, reaching pygofer posterior third (Fig. 10D). Aedeagus shaft curved ventrally, with apex rounded (Fig. 10G). Aedeagal atrium with a basidorsal elongate process, with apex acute; in ventral view, dorsoapical portion of sheath-like structure forming subtriangular lobes laterally (Fig. 10H).

Etymology

The species epithet ‘ robusta ’ comes from the Latin and means ‘robust’, referring to the overall large aspect of this species.

Type material

Holotype

BRAZIL – Paraná State • ♂; Guaratuba, Pontal do Paraná; elev. 1400 m; 16 Feb. 2009; P.C. Grossi and D. R. Parizotto leg.; DZUP.

Paratypes

BRAZIL – Paraná State • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; DZUP • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 16 Apr. 2011; DZUP • 1 ♂; Tijucas do Sul, Morro do Araçatuba; elev. 1200–1600 m; 25–27 Feb. 2011; P.C. Grossi leg.; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for holotype; elev. 1600–1652 m; 31 Jan. 2012; Grossi and Santos leg.; DZUP • 2 ♀♀; Pontal do Itararé, Morro dos Perdidos; 25°53′27″ S, 48°57′27″ W; elev. 1423 m; 3 Feb. 2010; P.C. Grossi leg.; DZUP .

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Total length. Male holotype: 9.8. Paratypes (♂): 9.4–10.2 (n = 3); (♀) 10.9–11.6 (n = 4).

HEAD (Fig. 10A). In dorsal view, moderately produced anteriorly; anterior margin sub quadrangular; median length of crown ⅓ of interocular width and ½ of transocular width. Frons (Fig. 10C), in frontal view, texture slightly granular, muscular impressions indistinct; epistomal suture obsolete medially. Clypeus (Fig. 10C), in frontal view, without pubescence. Pronotum (Fig. 10A), in dorsal view, with lateral margins parallel, posterior two-thirds of disk slightly transversely striated medially. Mesonotum (Fig. 10A), in dorsal view, slightly granulated before transverse sulcus and slightly transversely striated posteriorly. Forewings (Fig. 10A–B) with veins and membrane distinct, including apical cells posterior third; bases of anteapical cells approximately aligned with claval apex. Remaining characteristics of external morphology as described for the genus by Young (1977: 747).

COLORATION. Crown and frons (Fig. 10A–C) black, mottled with yellowed spots. Clypeus (Fig. 10C) black, with yellowed maculae on lateral margins. Lorum and gena yellow (Fig. 10C). Pronotum (Fig. 10A) anterior third blackened, with various yellowed maculae, posterior two-thirds yellow; posterior margin outlined in black. Mesonotum (Fig. 10A) anterior half black, with a pair of triangular maculae laterally and a yellow spot medially; yellowish posteriorly to transversal sulcus. Meso and metasternum (Fig. 10B–C) yellow. Forewing (Fig. 10A–B) green, with veins and apex browned. Legs (Fig. 10B) brown with coxae outer margins yellow. Abdomen (Fig. 11A–B) blackened, with terminalia outlined in yellow.

MALE GENITALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 10D), in lateral view, strongly produced posteriorly, dorsal margin concave preapically, posterior margin rounded; macrosetae distributed along the posterior two-thirds of disc. Valve (Fig. 10F), in ventral view, with a longitudinal median thickening, anterior margin with a reentrance medially. Subgenital plate (Fig. 10D), in ventral view, triangular, narrowing gradually towards apex, inner margin rectilinear, outer margin with a uniseriate row of macrosetae; in lateral view, reaching pygofer posterior third, dorsal margin with multiseriate rows of microsetae. Style (Fig. 10E), in dorsal view, elongate, extending posteriorly beyond apex of connective, apical portion slightly directed outwards and bearing microsetae, apex truncated. Connective (Fig. 10E), in dorsal view, V-shaped, arms and stalk short, with a median keel. Aedeagus (Fig. 10G–H), in lateral view, shaft conspicuously curved ventrally, apex rounded; aedeagal atrium well developed, forming a sheath-like structure directed anteroventrally, attaining shaft’s apex, with a pair of elongate basidorsal processes, directed posteroventrally, with apex acute and surpassing shaft’s apex; in ventral view, anterior margin narrowly projected anteriorly, posterior margin of atrium with a strong reentrance medially, forming two distinct subtriangular lobes laterally; basidorsal processes apexes slightly divergent.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 11B), in lateral view strongly produced posteriorly, posterior margin triangular, macrosetae along ventral and posterior margins. Abdominal sternite VII (Fig. 11B–C) as long as wide; posterior margin emarginated medially, forming a pair of rounded lobes laterally; posterolateral corners subparallel. Valvifer I (Fig. 11D), in lateral view, rounded. Valvula I (Fig. 11D–E), in lateral view, blade narrowed apically; base with a lobated projection directed anteriorly, apex narrowly rounded; dorsal sculptured area strigate, extending from basal portion to apex and almost reaching halfwidth of blade, ventral sculpted area strigate, extending from basal to apical portions. Valvula II (Fig. 11F–H), in lateral view, slightly expanded beyond basal curvature, narrowing gradually towards apex; without preapical prominence; apex rounded; dorsal margin with 40 continuous teeth, robust and triangular at basal and median portions followed by small and trapezoid in apical portion, both bearing denticles. Gonoplac (Fig. 11I–J), in lateral view, with basal half narrow, apical half expanded; apex rounded, with apical surface bearing denticuli and macrosetae along ventroposterior margin.

Remarks

Ruppeliana robusta sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of Ruppeliana by its forewings, which lack stripes or spots but feature distinct veins and a brownish apex. To date, R. robusta is the only species in the genus with a subquadrangular posterior margin of the head.