Tenucephalus heppneri, 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 : 105-107

Tenucephalus heppneri n. sp.

( Figs. 65 , 84 )

Diagnosis. T. heppneri can be distinguished from other Tenucephalus by a combination of the – interstinctus color pattern, male pygofer without apical process, aedeagus with two pairs of apical processes apical directed caudally, and ventral pair of apical aedeagal processes without preapical tooth.

Body. Male, 3.7–3.8 mm.

Color. With the – interstinctus color pattern.

Male. Pygofer short in lateral view; with numerous very long macrosetae on posterior half; without dorsal processes. Valve triangular; posterior lobe rounded; width less than 2x median length; anterior margin not produced. Subgenital plate narrow, triangular; with single row of ~9 macrosetae near lateral margin; with some other long fine setae laterally. Style preapical lobe distinct, lobulate; apophysis boot-shaped, with distinct heel, toe directed laterally. Connective-aedeagus with symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base, processes straight, about 1/3 as long as aedeagus including apical processes. Aedeagus broad in lateral view; gonopore preapical on ventral side; with two pairs of bladelike apical processes, dorsal-most pair shorter than ventral pair and evenly attenuated to apex, ventral pair somewhat widened medially and attenuated to apex. Phragma membranous to lightly sclerotized, not forming well-defined bulbous lobes, with short setae throughout. Segment X membranous.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, PERU: Madre de Dios, Rio Tambopata Res. , 30 air km SW Pto. Mal- donado, 290m, 6–10-XI-1979, J.B. Heppner, subtropical moist forest [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 1♂, same data . 1♂, same data except 16–20-XI-1979. [ USNM]

Etymology. This species is named in honor of the collector of the type series of this species and several other species described here, J.B. Heppner.

Distribution. T. heppneri is known only from the type locality, southwest of the town of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata Prov., Madre de Dios Region, Peru.

Remarks. Within the – interstinctus species group, T. heppneri appears to be most closely related to T. manuensis based on the short basal processes of the connective-aedeagus and aedeagus with two pairs of apical processes.

Figures

FIGUIRE 65. Tenucephalus heppneri n. sp. (A–B, D–H) standard views; A & B, male; F shown with valve separated from subgenital plate.

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