Tenucephalus amabilis (Linnavuori & Heller) Zahniser, 2021

Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, Zootaxa 4954 (1), pp. 1-160 : 96

Tenucephalus amabilis (Linnavuori & Heller) n.comb.

( Fig. 84 )

Bonamus amabilis Linnavuori & Heller, 1961: 4–5 [original description, morphology, illustration]; Zanol, 2006: 97 [catalogue]; Zahniser, 2007 [online catalogue]; Freytag & Gaiani, 2017 [online catalogue]

Diagnosis. T. amabilis is known only from the female type specimen and possesses the – interstinctus color pattern. It is similar in size (4.7 mm) to T. misiones (female 4.6 mm) and to T. brevilamina (female 4.6–4.7 mm) but appears to be have more distinct and darker coloration, a more produced sternite VII, and is larger than T. interstinctus and T. manuensis (female of latter two species up to 4.4 mm). T. heppneri also possesses the – interstinctus color pattern, but the female of this species is not known. Females in the – interstinctus group are often difficult or impossible to identify unless associated in a series with males. If associated male specimens of T. amabilis cannot be located or collected from near the type locality, the identity of this species may remain obscure.

Material examined. No specimens examined. The type is reportedly deposited at Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany .

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality. The collection data given by Linnavuori & Heller (1961) is “ Peru, Hda. Mascoitania, Urwald, 10–12.IX.1957 ”. This possibly refers to the Fundo Mascoitania Reserve, with coordinates 12°47′22″S 71°23′32″W.

Remarks. Linnavuori & Heller (1961) indicated their unsure placement of the species in Bonamus by including a question mark after the genus name in the new species heading and a remark made at the end of the description. Based on the possession of the ovipositor protruding very far beyond the pygofer, the color pattern similar to the species noted above, and the absence of the color pattern defined here for Bonamus , the species is here transferred from Bonamus to Tenucephalus . T. amabilis is a member of the – interstinctus species group.

Figures

FIGUIRE 84. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. and Virganana danasensis in northwestern South America.