Pseudocurtara, Dietrich & Magalhães & Takiya, 2020

Dietrich, Christopher H., Magalhães, Raysa Brito de & Takiya, Daniela M., 2020, Revision of the endemic Malagasy leafhopper tribe Platyjassini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 695, pp. 1-89 : 59-60

Pseudocurtara gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:859280F7-5DE5-4E92-AEBB-1AC01EC36449

3D, 12J–Q, 13A–C, 17P–U

Type species

Pseudocurtara quadrata sp. nov.

Etymology

The genus name, a feminine noun, combines ʻ pseudo -ʼ (ʻfalseʼ) with Curtara , a superficially similar New World leafhopper genus belonging to the tribe Gyponini .

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body medium-sized; dorsum stramineous, with black spots and sometimes additional dark or red markings on crown, pronotum and forewing; vertex not overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown transversely striate; forewing with supernumerary crossveins in clavus and corium; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex; hind femur macrosetal formula 2+2 +1; style without denticuli; aedeagus shaft with paired or unpaired preapical processes.

Description

HABITUS. Medium-sized platyjassines (5.8–9.2 mm). Color stramineous, with symmetrical dark brown markings on dorsum.

HEAD. Crown declivous, slightly convex, with numerous well delimited transverse striations over entire length, anterior and posterior margins parallel, anterior margin well delimited by pair of parallel transverse carinae, not spatulate, forming only slight ledge over dorsal part of face, vertex without anterolateral extension over eye; ocelli mesad of anteromesal corners of eyes, closer to midline than to eyes. Frontoclypeus moderately convex, with median dorsal depression, transversely rugulose; antennal ledge oblique, not overlapping frontoclypeus; lateral frontal suture extended to crown margin above antennal ledge; gena slightly emarginate below eye and relatively broad more ventrad, completely concealing proepisternum; lorum small, flat; anteclypeus slightly convex, lateral margin strongly divergent distally; rostrum broad, extended to middle coxae.

THORAX. Pronotum strongly declivous, in profile continuing contour of crown, much wider than head, lateral margins strongly divergent posteriorly, transverse striations well delimited. Forewing with numerous supernumerary crossveins in clavus and in distal half of corium, appendix broad and extended to wing apex, inner apical cell relatively long. Hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically, then separate near apex. Front femur rows IC and AV well delimited, with stout setae of similar sizes, somewhat irregular; dorsal surface of tibia flattened and with few macrosetae between PD and AD. Hind femur macrosetal formula 2 +2+1, tibial row AD without smaller setae between successive macrosetae; tarsomere I plantar row double, pecten with 4 platellae.

ABDOMEN. Male pregenital sternite distinctly longer than sternite VII, posterior margin truncate. Male pygofer base band-like, dorsally without median posterior projection; lobe separated from base by membranous cleft, with numerous macrosetae in distal half, processes and spines absent, ventral margin without distinct group of fine setae. Subgenital plate with median longitudinal row or band of macrosetae, dorsolateral margin with band of long, fine setae. Style apophysis slender, without ventral denticuli, apex curved dorsomesad. Connective stem long, arms weakly developed, anterior margin convex. Aedeagus with atrium V-shaped in posterior view, shaft simple, unpaired basal or preapical process present. Female with ovipositor shorter than pygofer; first valvula broad, with dorsal sculpturing reticulate; second valvulae broad, with distal teeth alternating between left and right blade.

Remarks

This genus differs from other Platyjassini , and is similar to the following two genera, in having the crown relatively short, with well-delimited transverse striations, the vertex without anterolateral extensions overlapping the eyes and the ocelli between rather than anterad of the eyes. It differs from Pseudomarganana gen. nov. and Pseudocyrta gen. nov. in having the forewing venation reticulate.

Key to species of Pseudocurtara gen. nov. (males)

1. Pronotum posterior margin bordered with dark brown ( Fig. 3D ); aedeagal process arising on left side of shaft ( Fig. 12M ) ............................................. Pseudocurtara minima gen. et sp. nov.

– Pronotum posterior margin not bordered with brown; aedeagal process arising on right side of shaft....................................................................................................................................................2

2. Pronotum with large, paired black submedial maculae, forewing heavily marked with bright red ( Fig. 3E ); aedeagus in lateral view without quadrate ventral lobe ( Fig. 12O ) .................................... ............................................................................................ Pseudocurtara nigripicta gen. et sp. nov.

– Pronotum without large, paired black submedial maculae, forewing without bright red pigmentation ( Fig. 3F ); aedeagus in lateral view with prominent quadrate ventral lobe ( Fig. 13B ) .. ............................................................................................ Pseudocurtara quadrata gen. et sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 3. Platyjassini, dorsal and lateral habitus of males. A. Plerujassus appendiculatus (Evans, 1959). B. Plerujassus brunnescens sp. nov. C. Plexijassus caliginosus sp. nov. D. Pseudocurtara minima sp. nov. E. Pseudocurtara nigripicta sp. nov. F. Pseudocurtara quadrata sp. nov. G. Pseudocyrta hyalina sp. nov. H. Pseudomarganana olivacea sp. nov. I. Pseudomarganana rosea sp. nov. J. Pulchrijassus anjozorobensis sp. nov. K. Pulchrijassus eunsunae sp. nov. L. Pulchrijassus pallescens sp. nov. M. Pulchrijassus roseus sp. nov. N. Pulchrijassus rubrilineatus sp. nov. O. Pulchrijassus sindhuae sp. nov. P. Pulchrijassus talatakelyensis sp. nov. Q. Pulchrijassus toamasinensis sp. nov. R. Punctijassus circularis sp. nov. S. Punctijassus compressus sp. nov. T. Punctijassus ivohibensis sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 12. Plerujassus gen. nov., Plexijassus gen. nov. and Pseudocurtara gen. nov. – A–C. Plerujassus appendiculatus (Evans, 1959). A. Genital capsule, lateral view. B. Genitalia, lateral view. C. Same, ventral view. – D–F. Plerujassus brunnescens sp. nov. D. Genital capsule, lateral view. E. Genitalia, lateral view. F. Same, ventral view. – G–I. Plexijassus caliginosus sp. nov. G. Genital capsule, lateral view. H. Genitalia, lateral view. I. Same, ventral view. – J–M. Pseudocurtara minima sp. nov. J. Genital capsule, lateral view. K. Genitalia, lateral view. L. Same, ventral view. M. Aedeagus, posterior view. – N–Q. Pseudocurtara nigripicta sp. nov. N. Genital capsule, lateral view. O. Genitalia, lateral view. P. Same, ventral view. Q. Aedeagus, posterior view. Photos not to scale.

Fig. 13. Pseudocurtara gen. nov., Pseudocyrta gen. nov. and Pseudomarganana gen. nov. – A–C. Pseudocurtara quadrata sp. nov. A. Genital capsule, lateral view. B. Genitalia, lateral view. C. Same, ventral view. – D–G. Pseudocyrta hyalina sp. nov. D. Genital capsule, lateral view. E. Genitalia, lateral view. F. Same, ventral view. G. Aedeagus, posterior view. – H–K. Pseudomarganana olivacea sp. nov. H. Genital capsule, lateral view. I. Genitalia, lateral view. J. Same, ventral view. K. Aedeagus, posterior view. – L–O. Pseudomarganana rosea sp. nov. L. Genital capsule, lateral view. M. Genitalia, lateral view. N. Same, ventral view. O. Aedeagus, posterior view. Photos not to scale.