Pseudocyrta, 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 : 62-64

Pseudocyrta gen nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2BE223A4-A6D1-42A1-89D4-723E338C9F5B

Figs 3G , 13 D–G

Type species

Pseudocyrta hyalina sp. nov.

Etymology

The genus name, a feminine noun, combines ʻ pseudo -ʼ (ʻfalseʼ) with Cyrta , the name of a superficially similar genus belonging to Deltocephalinae : Stegelytrini .

Diagnosis

This genus may be distinguished by the following combination of features: body medium-sized; dorsum dark brown, without distinct spots or stripes; vertex not produced or spatulate, not overlapping anterolateral margin of eye, crown transversely striate; forewing mostly hyaline, without extra crossveins, appendix striolate; hindwing veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent preapically but separate near apex; hind femur with many supernumerary macrosetae; style without denticuli, apex foot-like; aedeagus with pair of preapical spines extended distad.

Description

HABITUS. Medium sized platyjassines (8.2 mm). Color dark brown without distinct paired markings.

HEAD. Crown declivous, slightly convex, with numerous well delimited transverse striations over entire length, anterior and posterior margins parallel, anterior margin well delimited in lateral view but only weakly produced and forming obtuse angle with face in profile, vertex without anterolateral extension over eye; ocelli mesad of anteromesal corners of eyes, closer to midline than to eyes. Frontoclypeus convex, without 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 without supernumerary crossveins, appendix very broad, striolate and extended to wing apex, inner apical cell long and relatively broad. 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 with two distal pairs of macrosetae and several more basad, tibial row AD without smaller setae between successive macrosetae; tarsomere I with plantar setae scattered.

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, with small foot-like apical extension. Connective stem long, arms weakly developed, anterior margin convex. Aedeagus with atrium V-shaped in posterior view, with weakly pigmented plate connecting arms of V; shaft simple, with pair of slender symmetrical lateral spines arising near midlength and extended distad, gonopore apical. Female unknown.

Remarks

This genus, erected based on a single male, resembles Pseudocurtara gen. nov. and Pseudomarganana gen. nov. in having the head very short and broad in dorsal view, with the anterior margin relatively thick and not produced over the frontoclypeus in profile, but with numerous transverse striations. It differs from the two mentioned genera in having the forewing mostly hyaline, with the appendix unusually broad and striolate.

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. 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.