Ruppeliana serrana, Mejdalani, 2017

Mejdalani, Gabriel, 2017, The Neotropical sharpshooter genus Ruppeliana Young (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): four new species, key to males, and new synonyms, Zootaxa 4329 (5), pp. 436-448 : 444-446

Ruppeliana serrana sp. nov.

( Figures 22–27 )

Total length: male holotype 10.0 mm.

Description. External morphology. Head ( Fig. 22 ), in dorsal view, moderately produced anteriorly; median length of crown almost 1/2 of interocular width and approximately 1/3 of transocular width; ocelli located slightly behind imaginary line between anterior eye angles, each ocellus approximately equidistant from anterior eye angle and median line of crown; surface of crown with shallow concavity between ocellus and adjacent eye, without sculpturing or setae. Frons, in frontal view, with central area granular; epistomal suture obsolete medially. Clypeus apex with conspicuous pubescence. Pronotum ( Fig. 22 ), in dorsal view, with lateral margins slightly convergent anteriorly; dorsopleural carinae complete, rectilinear and declivous anteriorly; disk of pronotum with median shallow transverse sulcus next to anterior margin. Forewings with membrane distinct on apex of apical cells; veins inconspicuous, expect in membranous area; with bases of anteapical cells approximately aligned with claval apex. Remaining characteristics of external morphology as described for the genus by Young (1977: 747).

Color ( Fig. 22 ). Crown, in dorsal view, dark brown to black with large area on antennal ledges extending internally to eyes and adjacent to ocelli, and small median apical macula, pale yellow. Face pale yellow, with Oshaped median macula on frons, longitudinal median macula on clypeus and clypeal apex, dark brown to black. Pronotum pale yellow, with transverse black band at anterior margin, reddish-brown band on posterior third bordered anteriorly and posteriorly by pale reddish-brown and with posterior margin delimited by dark brown. Mesonotum pale yellow; anterior margin, pair of small spots, transverse sulcus and apex, dark brown to black. Forewings reddish-brown, with four irregular grey spots on clavus (basalmost two spots larger than apical ones): one basally, one at middle, and two close to apex (one distal to another); corium with irregular, mostly grey maculae, including one at humeral area, large one close to central portion of claval sulcus and two smaller ones posteriorly; two transverse, irregular grey stripes: broader one at bases of anteapical cells and another at bases of apical cells (excluding first cell); membrane smoky brown. Thorax, in lateral view, mostly yellow except for small black macula at anterior margin of mesepisternun; hind legs brownish-yellow with apex of tibiae and tarsi dark brown.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Fig. 23 ), in lateral view, well produced posteriorly; posterior portion with small tegumentary processes (denticuli); macrosetae concentrated apically and extending anteriorly along ventral margin; processes absent. Valve ( Fig. 23–24 ), in ventral view, with posterior margin broadly convex. Subgenital plates ( Figs. 23–24 ), in ventral view, elongate, subtriangular, gradually narrowed toward apex; with uniseriate macrosetae along outer margin, as well as several fine setae; in lateral view, not extending posteriorly as far as pygofer apex. Style ( Fig. 25 ), in dorsal view, extending posteriorly much beyond apex of connective, almost reaching subgenital plate midlength; without preapical lobe; apex subacute and curved externally. Connective ( Fig. 25 ), in dorsal view, very short, V-shaped; stalk very short, with high median keel. Aedeagus ( Figs. 26–27 ) with shaft, in lateral view, slightly expanded toward apex; in dorsal view, with deep dorsal split; atrium well developed as ventral sheath-like portion linked to connective and bearing two pairs of processes: first pair basal, short, narrow, extending to apical third of aedeagus, second pair robust and strongly curved ventrally, with apex truncate and serrate.

Female unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet, serrana , refers to the mountainous type locality, Serra da Bocaina, in Rio de Janeiro State.

Taxonomic notes. Ruppeliana serrana can be recognized by the robust apical processes of the aedeagal atrium, which are directed ventrally and with the apex truncate ( Fig. 26 ). Unfortunately, this species is currently known only from the male holotype.

Type material. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro State . Holotype: male, “ Serra [mountain range] da\ Bocaina—RJ [Rio de Janeiro State]\ 1650 m ”; “ I/1969 \ M. Alvarenga ” ( MNRJ) .

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 27. Ruppeliana serrana sp. nov. 22, male holotype (total length 10.0 mm), dorsal view (antennae and legs not depicted), MNRJ. Male genitalia: 23, pygofer, valve, and subgenital plate, lateral view; 24, valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; 25, connective and style, dorsal view; 26, aedeagus, lateral view; 27, aedeagus, ventral view.