Rhabdotalebra litoralensis, 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 : 55-57

Rhabdotalebra litoralensis new species

( Figs. 1 A–L )

Male: Length: 3.0– 3.2 mm. Coloration yellowish with distinctive marks on forewings ( Fig. 1A ): U-shaped brown mark involving both clavus and corium in basal half not crossing transversely commissural vein, transverse vittae mark near base of vein R, transverse vittae in base of outer apical cell, darker brown blotch over vein dividing third and four apical cells, and smoky area in basal portions of inner and second apical cells.

Crown produced with apex broadly rounded; median length greater than interocular width; posterior margin regularly concave. Pronotum median length one-half greater than median length of crown; lateral margins divergent posteriorly. Ocelli closer to eyes than to median line of head. Fore and hind wing venation characteristic of genus ( Fig. 1A–B ).

First sternal complex ( Fig. 1C ): sternal bar curved ventrally; dorsal apodeme well developed, medial notch reaching sternal bar, constricted dorsally; lateral apodeme well developed, extending dorsally as much as dorsal apodeme. Second sternal abdominal apodemes extended over fourth segment, tapered, medial margins concave, apices rounded.

Genitalia: Pygofer ( Fig. 1D ) triangular in lateral view, with uniseriate, oblique group of five or six macrosetae near posterior margin and five uniseriate microsetae on posterior margin; with sclerotized process tapered, arising at apex of posteroventral margin, and slightly curved dorso-caudad, with strong spines arranged in several longitudinal rows; ventral processes convergent in ventral aspect. Subgenital plates ( Fig. 1E ) elongated, greatly exceeding posterior margin of pygofer, with macrosetae confined to basal half and fine and longer setae at apex, three to four rows of microsetae near ventral margin; darker in third apical. Style ( Fig. 1G ) broader before apex but without definite preapical lobe; apical portion curved caudoventrad; transversely rugose near apex. Connective ( Fig. 1F ) shallowly U-shaped. Aedeagus ( Fig. 1H ) with preatrium distinct; dorsal apodeme well developed, saddle-shaped in lateral aspect, bilobed at base; shaft slender curved dorsad, with slender curved ventrally directed caudal apical process; gonopore apical. Anal segment without sclerotized lateral margins.

Female: shape and general coloration very similar to those of male.

Seventh sternum ( Fig. 1I ) strap-shaped, posterior margin transverse with short rounded median lobe. Pygofer ( Fig. 1J ), in lateral view, with group of macrosetae on medio-ventral margin and line of eight or nine macrosetae on caudal margin. Second valvulae slender in basal 2/3, leaf-like in apical 1/3. Large valve ( Fig. 1K ) with minute similar teeth regularly arranged in dorsal margin and apex, with sclerotized longitudinal bars of different size lying in lateral surface, branched to dorsal margin. Small valve ( Fig. 1L ) similar but with minute teeth only on apex.

Etymology: The specific name litoralensis refers to the name given to the Argentinean geographical area where this species was captured.

Type material: Holotype male: ARGENTINA. Entre Ríos: Concordia 31º 22`236`` S 58º 07`014``W, 5/ 19/2008, Bouvet col. Paratypes: 2 males and 3 females same collection date as the holotype.

Other material examined: 8 males, 6 females, on Tabebuia impetiginosa (lapacho rosado), Bouvet col. 5/19/2008.

Notes: This species differs of others in having the aedeagus with a single ventral process. The color pattern involving slender longitudinal black lines on the anterior half of the forewing is similar to the species: octolineata , signata , jamaicensis and monrosi .

Figures

FIGURES 1. A – L: Rhabdotalebra litoralensis sp. nov. A, forewing; B, hindwing. Male: C – H. C, sternal apodeme; D, pygofer, lateral view; E, subgenital plate; F, connective; G, style; H, aedeagus, lateral view. Female: I – L. I, sternite VII; J, pygofer; K, large valve; L, small valve. (Figs A – C: 10 X; D – J: 20 X; K – L: 40 X) Scale bar = 0.1 mm.