Ruppeliana delicata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9504029E-22B4-4691-AB1B-820EC4936A7C

Figs 8–9

Diagnosis

Large sharpshooters, about 10 mm length (Fig. 8A–B). Crown, frons and pronotum black, mottled with yellow spots (Fig. 8A–C). Forewing brown, with a longitudinal laterally yellow strap, from basal to anteapical portion, the remainder parts mottled with yellow spots (Fig. 8A–B). Male pygofer concave in dorsal margin posterior half (Fig. 8D). Subgenital plates not attaining pygofer apex (Fig. 8D). Style short with apex truncated (Fig. 8E). Aedeagal shaft curved ventrally, apex rounded (Fig. 8G). Aedeagal atrium sheath-like, apex directed anteriorly, with a pair of slender basidorsal processes, subparallel, with apex acute (Fig. 8G–H).

Etymology

The epithet ‘ delicata ’ is derived from the Latin and means ‘charming’, ‘elegant’, and ‘delicate’, referring to the remarkable pattern and coloration of its representatives.

Type material

Holotype

BRAZIL – Santa Catarina State • ♂; Urubici, Parque Nacional São Joaquim; elev. 1600 m; 17–18 Mar. 2012; Grossi, Parizotto and Leivas leg.; DZUP.

Paratypes

BRAZIL – Santa Catarina State • 1 ♂, 8 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; DZUP .

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Total length. Male holotype: 9.6. Paratype (♂): 9.9 (n = 1); (♀) 9.9–11.2 (n = 8).

HEAD (Fig. 8A). In dorsal view, moderately produced anteriorly, anterior margin broadly rounded, median length of crown approximately ⅓ of interocular width and approximately ½ of transocular width. Frons (Fig. 8C), in frontal view, texture slightly granular, muscular impressions indistinct, epistomal suture obsolete medially. Clypeus (Fig. 8C), in frontal view, posterior half slightly pubescent. Pronotum (Fig. 8A), in dorsal view, with lateral margins slightly convergent apically; posterior two-thirds of disk slightly transversely striated medially. Mesonotum (Fig. 8A) slightly granulated before transverse sulcus and slightly transversely striate behind. Forewings (Fig. 8A–B) with veins indistinct, membrane distinct, including inner apical cell; 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 face (Fig. 8A–B) black, with various rounded yellowed macula. Clypeus (Fig. 8C) black, with a pair of yellowed oval maculae on lateral margins. Lorum and gena (Fig. 8C) yellow, with smoky browned areas. Pronotum (Fig. 8A) anterior third blackened, with rounded yellowed maculae, posterior two-thirds black with smoky yellowed areas and yellow maculae. Mesonotum (Fig. 8A) anterior half black, with two pairs of yellow maculae, one laterally and the other medially; yellow posteriorly to transversal sulcus. Meso and metasternum (Fig. 8B) black. Forewing (Fig. 8A–B) browned, mottled with rounded yellow maculae, with a transversal yellow band from basal to anteapical portion. Legs (Fig. 8B–C) yellow, coxae lateral portions browned, tibia lateral portions reddened. Abdomen (Fig. 9A–B) blackened.

MALE GENITALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 8D), in lateral view, strongly produced posteriorly, dorsal margin conspicuously concave preapically, apical portion slightly expanded, posterior margin subquadrangular; macrosetae distributed along the posterior two-thirds of disc. Valve (Fig. 8F), in ventral view, with a longitudinal median thickening, anterior margin with a reentrance medially. Subgenital plate (Fig. 8D), 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. 8E), in dorsal view, elongate, extending posteriorly beyond apex of connective, outer margin apical portion bearing microsetae, slightly directed outwards, apex truncated. Connective (Fig. 8E), in dorsal view, V-shaped, arms and stalk short, with a median keel. Aedeagus (Fig. 8G–H), in lateral view, shaft conspicuously curved ventrally, with rounded apex; aedeagal atrium well developed, forming a sheath-like structure directed anteroventrally, attaining shaft’s apex, with a pair of elongate basidorsal processes, with acute apex, directed posteriorly and trespassing shaft’s apex; in ventral view, anterior margin narrowly projected anteriorly, posterior margin of atrium with a strong reentrance medially, forming two distinct rounded lobes laterally; basidorsal processes apical portions subparallel.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Pygofer (Fig. 9B), in lateral view strongly produced posteriorly, posterior margin triangular, macrosetae along ventral and posterior margins. Abdominal sternite VII (Fig. 9A–C) as long as wide, posterior margin emarginated medially, forming a pair of rounded lobes laterally, posterolateral corners slightly directed outwards. Valvifer I (Fig. 9D), in lateral view, rounded. Valvula I (Fig. 9D–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. 9F–H), in lateral view, slightly expanded beyond basal curvature, narrowing gradually towards apex; without preapical prominence; apex rounded; dorsal margin with 55 continuous teeth, irregular shaped after basal curvature, robust and triangular at basal and median portions and small and trapezoid or irregular shaped in apical portion, all bearing denticles. Gonoplac (Fig. 9I–J), in lateral view, with basal half narrow, bearing denticuli in ventral margin, apical half expanded; apex rounded, with apical surface bearing denticuli and few macrosetae in ventroposterior margin.

Remarks

Ruppeliana delicata sp. nov. and R. longiphallus share two distinct forewing marking patterns: longitudinal stripes and spots. However, R. delicata can be readily distinguished from R. longiphallus and all other species of Ruppeliana by its unique wing pattern, which features a single pair of lateral longitudinal stripes, with the remaining forewing surface mottled with spots. In contrast, R. longiphallus has four pairs of rounded basal spots on the forewings, each followed by a longitudinal stripe.