Rhabdotalebra flava, Catalano, María Inés, Paradell, Susana Liria & Lenicov, Ana María Marino Remes, 2010

Catalano, María Inés, Paradell, Susana Liria & Lenicov, Ana María Marino Remes, 2010, Revision of the genus Rhabdotalebra Young (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Alebrini) and description of two new species from Argentina, Zootaxa 2601, pp. 53-60 : 57

Rhabdotalebra flava new species

( Figs. 2A–K )

Male: Length: 2.5–2.8 mm. Coloration: yellowish. Forewing ( Fig. 2A ): Ground color yellowish translucent with transcommissural transversal zig-zag dark brown markings in basal two–thirds and black spot in basal one-third of inner apical cell continued with transverse fumose vittae reaching appendix.

Crown produced with apex broadly rounded; median length slightly greater than interocular width; posterior margin regularly concave. Ocelli on crown, nearly equidistant from inner eye margins and median line of head. Pronotum with median length one-half greater than median length of crown; lateral margins divergent posteriorly. Fore and hind wing venation characteristic of genus.

First sternal complex ( Fig. 2B ): sternal bar bowed ventrally, dorsal apodeme well developed, medial notch not reaching sternal bar, lateral apodeme well developed, extending dorsally as much as dorsal apodeme. Second sternal abdominal apodemes reaching segment 4, tapered, medial margins concave, apex rounded.

Genitalia: Pygofer ( Fig. 2C ) triangular in lateral view, with group of four macrosetae near posterior margin and several microsetae on disk; ventral slender process strongly sclerotized, elongate, extended well beyond pygofer lobe, apex curved ventrad, processes divergent in ventral aspect; dorsal margin strongly sclerotized with irregular and prominent spines. Subgenital plates ( Fig. 2D ) elongated, triangular, abruptly narrowed to apex, exceeding ventral pygofer process, with six macrosetae confined to basal half and fine uniseriate setae on dorsal margin; two rows of short and strong setae on apical half and several microsetae between these. Style ( Fig. 2E ) with conspicuous preapical lobe, with group of four alveoli on disk; apical extension straight, rugose and strongly sclerotized. Connective ( Fig. 2F ) transverse bar shaped. Aedeagus ( Fig. 2G ) with preatrium distinct; dorsal apodeme well developed, saddle-shaped in lateral aspect, bilobed at base; shaft slender bisinuate, acute apically, short ventral process arising at the base of shaft, slightly dorsally curved; gonopore apical. Anal segment with sclerotized lateral margins, terminating with lobate structure.

Female: shape and coloration of the body closely similar to those of male.

Seventh sternum ( Fig. 2H ) with posterior margin slightly concave to median excision and two sclerotized longitudinal lateral areas. Pygofer ( Fig. 2I ), in lateral view, with group of 6 close set macrosetae at middle of ventral margin and line of 7 macrosetae on caudal margin. Second valvulae slender in basal 2/3 portions, leaflike in apical 1/3. Large valve ( Fig. 2J ) with irregular teeth, with 2 or 3 denticles each, and small teeth on apex, with longitudinal bars lying in lateral surface branched to dorsal margin. Small valve ( Fig. 2K ) without teeth.

Etymology: The specific name flava refers to the presence of this species on ``lapacho amarillo´´( Tabebuia pulcherrima ).

Type material: Holotype male: ARGENTINA, Tucumán, 11/12/2008, Virla col. paratypes: 2 male and 2 female, same collection date as the holotype.

Other material examined: 5 males, 7 females, on Tabebuia pulcherrima Sandw. (Bignonaceae) (``lapacho amarillo´´) and Tabebuia ipe (Mart.) Standley (Bignonaceae) (``lapachillo´´), Virla col.

Notes: This species resembles R. litoralensis , but differs in having the pygofer with a longer ventral process and spines on the dorsal margin; the aedeagus with a basal ventral process, and sternite VII of the female concave and the large valve with denticulate teeth. The color pattern is characterized by a transverse transcommissural marking of the forewing similar to those of R. hambletoni , plummeri , brunnea and ornata .

Figures

FIGURES 2. A – K: Rhabdotalebra flava sp. nov. A, forewing. Male: B – G. B, sternal apodeme; C, pygofer, lateral view; D, subgenital plate; E, style; F, connective; G, aedeagus, lateral view. Female: H – K. H, sternite VII; I, pygofer; J, large valve; K, small valve. (Figs A – B: 10 X; C – I: 20 X; J – K: 40 X) Scale bar = 0.1 mm.