Barolineocerus chicomendesi sp. nov.

(Figs. 3D–F, 11A–L)

Type locality: Km 14, ZF-2, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Diagnosis. Pronotal macula extends to anterior half of pronotum (Fig. 3D). Claval macula extends distinctly beyond scutellum apex (Fig. 3D). Abdominal sternite II apodeme extending slightly beyond posterior margin of sternite III (Fig. 11B). Pygofer posterior margin with short ventral process; with short and slender median process, crossed in posterior view, pointed at apex (Figs. 11C–D). Valve with anterior margin concave and posterior one convex (Fig. 11E). Subgenital plate without dorsal process; apex rounded (Figs. 11F–G). Aedeagus with dorsal median process; without dorsal subapical ridge; with ventral transverse ridge at apical fourth of shaft (Figs. 11K–L). Anal tube, laterobasal process with base sinuous at anterior margin, apex distinctly pointed (Figs. 11C–D).

Measurements (mm). Holotype male, total length (to apex of forewing): 4.02; median length of crown: 0.38; length of crown close to eyes: 0.35; width of head: 1.49; width of crown between eyes: 0.80; length of pronotum: 0.45; length of scutellum: 0.78; width of pronotum: 1.35; width of scutellum: 1.07; length of face: 0.94; width of face between eyes: 0.82; distance between ocelli: 0.37; ocellocular distance: 0.19; length of clypeus: 0.32; basal width of clypeus: 0.19; apical width of clypeus: 0.28; length of forewing: 3.35. Males (n= 10), total length (to apex of forewing): 3.49–4.02; median length of crown: 0.27–0.38; length of crown close to eyes: 0.25–0.35; width of head: 1.35–1.49; width of crown between eyes: 0.69–0.80; length of pronotum: 0.45–0.53; length of scutellum: 0.69–0.85; width of pronotum: 1.18–1.42; width of scutellum: 0.90–1.10; length of face: 0.88–0.95; width of face between eyes: 0.72–0.82; distance between ocelli: 0.31–0.37; ocellocular distance: 0.17–0.20; length of clypeus: 0.29–0.31; basal width of clypeus: 0.17–0.25; apical width of clypeus: 0.25–0.28; length of forewing: 2.89–3.35.

Coloration (holotype). Body color (Figs. 3D–F) following genus description, with following exceptions. Clypeus and lora light brown (Fig. 3F). Gena light brown near lora and eyes, white laterally (Fig. 3F). Rostrum light yellow (Fig. 3F). Pronotum light brown with yellow median rounded macula with posterolateral margins straight, extending about 2/3 of pronotum length, with brown line not reaching posterior margin (Fig. 3D). Scutellum light brown; apical yellow portion of the scutellum discontinuous from the remaining portions of the posterolateral macula (Fig. 3D). Forewing claval macula extends distinctly beyond scutellum (Fig. 3D).

Description (holotype). Crown short, median length 0.48x shorter than interocular width; slightly wider (1.1x) than pronotum. Face approximately 1.2x longer than width between eyes; distance between ocelli 1.83x longer than ocellocular distance. Clypeus approximately 1.5x wider apically than basally. Pronotum 3x longer than wide; approximately 2x longer than crown. Scutellum approximately 1.4x wider than long. Hind tibia AD row with 6 cucullate setae; PD row with 13 cucullate setae. Other characters as in generic description.

Male terminalia. Pygofer triangular, in lateral view; posterior margin with short ventral process and slender median process, which is curved posterodorsally, crossing the other in posterior view, and with apex pointed (Figs. 11C–D). Valve with anterior margin concave and posterior margin convex (Fig. 11E). Subgenital plate reniform, in lateral view; without dorsal process; apex rounded in lateral view, strongly dorsally curved (Figs. 11F–G). Connective stem short and broad; with median constriction (Figs. 11H–I). Style slender and long; apex pointed (Figs. 11H, J). Aedeagus with dorsal median process; without dorsal subapical ridge; ventral transversal ridge at apical fourth (Figs. 11K–L). Anal tube, laterobasal process with base sinuous at anterior margin, apex without angulate at anterior margin (Figs. 11C–D). Other characters as in generic description.

Distribution. Brazil (Amapá, Amazonas, Pará); French Guiana ( Régina).

Etymology. Francisco “Chico” Alves Mendes Filho (1944–1988) born in Xapuri, Acre, was a rubber tapper and Brazilian political activist who intimately acquainted himself with the Amazon Rainforest. Through living in and understanding the vital importance of preserving natural resources in the Amazonia, he became a pioneering figure in environmental activism. His efforts influenced a generation of conservationists and environmentalists worldwide, leading to the creation of the Chico Mendes Institute of Conservation of Biodiversity in Brazil. His tireless advocacy for a more sustainable and protected Amazon inspired the naming of this leafhopper species, serving as a lasting tribute to his enduring legacy.

Remarks. Paratypes have hind tibia AD row with 5–6 cucullate setae and PD row with 10–14 cucullate setae. Notably, in some specimens from Brazil, the clypeal apex displays a light yellow hue with the posterolateral margins and most of the posterior portion yellow or green connected.

Barolineocerus chicomendesi sp. nov. shares affinities with B. chiasmus, B. furcatus, B. ornatus, B. dercyae sp. nov., and B. digitatus sp. nov. as mentioned earlier. It closely resembles B. chiasmus, B. ornatus, and B. digitatus sp. nov. featuring an aedeagus with a transverse ridge on the ventral margin of the shaft (Figs. 11K–L). However, it distinguishes itself from these species by the simple and curved median pygofer processes crossing the other in caudal view (Figs. 11C–D).

Type material. 1♂, holotype, “ BRASIL, AM [Amazonas], Manaus, ZF2\ Km-14, 2°35'21"S–60°06'55"\ W, 18–31.i.2017, 18m ”, INPA .

Paratypes: 2♂, 1♀, “BRASIL, Amapá, Serra do Navio,\ Estrada Pedra Preta, Varredura \ 14.iv.2014, 00°53'39.2"N –\ 52°00'41.9"W, J.T. Câmara, A.R.\ Plant & J.A. Rafael ”, INPA ; 4♂, 6♀, “BRASIL, Amapá, Oiapoque, BR 156,/ km-25, 3º39'35"N – 51º46'17"W,/ 10–23.viii.2019, Malaise grande, em/ floresta, J.A.Rafael, S.Lima, F.F.Xavier ”, DZRJ ; 1♂, same data as preceding, except: “ 4–17.xii.2019, Malaise, floresta/ J.A.Rafael, S.Lima, F.F.Xavier ”, INPA; 1♂, “BRASIL, AM [Amazonas], Manaus, Rod. [Rodovia] AM\ 010, km50. ZF-2, km-14, próximo\ à torre, 02º35'21"S; 60º06'55"W.\ 4.iii.2011. 03–06:00h. Arm. [Armadilha] luz\ móvel. J.A. Rafael; R.F. Silva leg.”, DZRJ ; 2♂, 4♀, “BRASIL, Amazonas, State,\ Rio Nhamundá e Igarapé \ Areia 18.V.2008 \ 01°35'11"S 057°37'32"W \ D.M. Takiya sweep”, INPA ; 2♂, 2♀, same data as preceding, DZRJ; 1♂, 1♀, “BRASIL— PA [Pará]—\ Melgaço —FLONA [Floresta Nacional]\ Caxiuanã —ECFPn [Estação Científica Ferreira Penna]\ 1°42'30"S 51°31'45"W ”, “plot 1\ 27-XI-2000 \ D. M. Takiya & S. H.\ Borges”, MPEG . FRENCH GUIANA: 2♂, “ French Guiana:\ Régina, Petite Montagne Tortue \ 04°19'14.1"N – 052°14'27.5W \ Flooded forest \ Malaise line D\ 24.xi.10\ G. Lamarre leg.”, DZRJ ; 1♂, same data as preceding, MNRJ; 1♂, 1♀, same data except: “ Automatic light trap \ 17.ii.10\ G. Lamarre leg.”, DZRJ; 1♂, same data as preceding, MNRJ; 1♂, 3♀, same data as preceding, “6.x.10\ G. Lamarre leg.”, DZRJ; 1♂, same data as preceding, except: “14.iv.10\ G. Lamarre leg.”, DZRJ; 1♂, same data as preceding, except: “ Terra Firme \ Light trap \ 08.ix.10\ G. Lamarre leg.”, DZRJ .