Tenucephalus brevilamina, 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 : 98-103

Tenucephalus brevilamina n. sp.

( Figs. 61 , 85 )

Diagnosis. T. brevilamina can be distinguished from other species in the genus by a combination of the – interstinctus color pattern, male pygofer without processes, subgenital plate very short and truncate, style apophysis relatively thick, digitate, with substantial tuberculate texture, not turned laterally at apex, and apex blunt, and basal paired processes of connective-aedeagus slender and tapered to sharply pointed apices.

Body. Male, 4.2 mm. Female 4.6–4.7 mm to wing apex.

Color. With the – interstinctus color pattern.

Male. Pygofer length about 2x height at midlength; not strongly incised dorsally; ventral margin straight; without processes; with ~20 macrosetae on posterior 1/3; with other short, fine setae ventrally. Valve large; width less than 2x median length. Subgenital plate very short, truncate; with ~8 macrosetae in one row near lateral margin; with many long fine setae laterally. Style preapical lobe short; roundedly angled; apophysis thick, digitate, swollen at midlength, with tuberculate texture. Connective-aedeagus with symmetrical pair of processes fused near aedeagal base, processes long, exceeding apex of aedeagus, subapically bent ventrad. Aedeagus curved throughout length; without processes. Segment X lightly sclerotized laterally; projecting out of pygofer. Phragma bulbous lobes relatively small; with short, thick setae throughout.

Female. Sternite VII rectangular; width greater than 2x median length; posterior margin slightly produced medially. Sternite VIII lightly sclerotized; not exceeding anterior margin of stVII.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, ARGENTINA: Misiones , Loreto, 18-XII-1931, A.A. Ogloblin [ USNM] . PARATYPES: 1♂, 3♀, same data . 1♂, same data except 14-XII-1931 . 1♀, same data except 8-XII-1931 . 1♀, same data except 10-XII-1931. [ USNM]

Etymology. The species name is considered a noun meaning “short plate” referring to the truncate subgenital plates of this species.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality in Misiones, Argentina.

Remarks. T. brevilamina is a member of the – interstinctus species group.

Figures

FIGUIRE 61. Tenucephalus brevilamina n. sp. (A–B, D–H, J) standard views. (Q) male genital capsule including internal genitalia, ventral view.

FIGUIRE 85. Distribution of Tenucephalus spp. in eastern South America.