Myxia Bahder & Bartlett, 2019

Zumbado Echavarria, Marco A., Barrantes Barrantes, Edwin A., Bartlett, Charles R., Helmick, Ericka E. & Bahder, Brian W., 2021, A new species of planthopper in the genus Myxia (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha Cixiidae) from the Reserva Privada el Silencio de Los Angeles Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, Zootaxa 4915 (3), pp. 351-363 : 355-356

Genus Myxia Bahder & Bartlett, 2019

Type species: Myxia belinda Bahder & Bartlett, 2019 ; by monotypy and original designation.

Diagnosis. Vertex longer at midline than wide, median carina present, evanescent distally. Hind tibiae lacking spines, forecoxae lacking denticle. Lateral pronotal carinae terminating on ventral margin of prothorax, tegulae evident. Medioventral process of the pygofer is subtriangular. Parameres distally bifid in lateral view and acute apex in ventral view with inner lateral tooth near apex. Periandrium (=phalobase) usually ring-like at base of aedeagus, prolonged into a projection of varying form subtending the aedeagus. Anal tube short and stout, distally projecting ventrally of ventrocaudally.

Remarks. Bahder et al. (2019a) noted that the terminalia of H. delta resembled those of Myxia belinda based on the illustrations of Kramer (1979) (specimens were not then available). Serendipitously, a specimen of H. delta was collected in Costa Rica. The resulting morphological comparison and molecular analysis gives strong support for transferring H. delta to Myxia , bringing the species count to three; M. baynardi sp. n., M. belinda , and M. delta ( Kramer, 1979) new combination. The genus is now further supported with strong molecular support and consistent morphological characters among three taxa.

Based on a combination of molecular and morphological evidence we place Haplaxius delta in Myxia as Myxia delta ( Kramer, 1979) new combination. Both COI and 18S phylogenies have support for the genus Myxia as a clade (99 and 62 bootstrap support respectively with the consensus tree also providing support (95 bootstrap support). In all cases, H. delta resolved within the Myxia clade ( Fig. 10 ). Furthermore, the general form of the parameres, ventral process of the pygofer, and aedeagus are consistent with the type species, Myxia belinda .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Aedeagus and periandrium of Myxia baynardi sp. n.: (A) right lateral view, (B), left lateral view, (C) dorsal view, and (D) ventral view.