Amblyscarta souzalopesi, Mejdalani & Domahovski & Cavichioli, 2019

Mejdalani, Gabriel, Domahovski, Alexandre C. & Cavichioli, Rodney R., 2019, Three new Brazilian species of the sharpshooter genus Amblyscarta Stål, 1869 and redescription of A. unifasciata (Fabricius, 1803) comb. nov. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini), Zootaxa 4711 (2), pp. 379-392 : 383-384

Amblyscarta souzalopesi sp. nov.

( Figs 18–34 )

Total length (mm). Male 8.7–8.8 (holotype 8.7); female 9.1.

Color ( Figs 18–20 ). Very similar to A. elianeae sp. nov., but with usually thinner brown stripes, vermiculations, and spots.

Male terminalia. Pygofer ( Fig. 21 ), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin slightly triangular; without processes; macrosetae distributed mostly on posterior third. Valve ( Fig. 22 ), in ventral view, large; posterior margin broadly rounded. Subgenital plate ( Figs 21, 22 ), in ventral view, triangular, narrowing gradually towards apex; fused basally to its counterpart; with uniseriate macrosetae along outer margin; in lateral view, extending almost as far posteriorly as pygofer apex. Style ( Fig. 23 ), in dorsal view, extending much farther posteriorly than connective; without preapical lobe; apical portion slightly curved outwards, inner margin not dilated and without tiny apical tooth; apex truncate. Aedeagus ( Figs 24–26 ) symmetrical; shaft, in lateral view, with ventral margin rectilinear for most of its length and dorsal margin almost entirely convex; apex with pair of triangular acute processes slightly directed anterad; gonopore located ventroapically.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII ( Figs 27, 28 ), in ventral view, with strong triangular projection on posterior margin. “Internal” sternite VIII without distinct sclerites. Pygofer ( Figs 27, 28 ), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin narrowly rounded; macrosetae distributed on posterior portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Valvifer I ( Fig. 29 ), in lateral view, subquadrangular. Valvula I ( Figs 29, 30 ), in lateral view, with acute apex; dorsal sculptured area extending from basal portion to apex of blade, strigate; ventral sculptured area restricted to apical portion, strigate; ventral interlocking device distinct along basiventral half of blade; in ventral view, basal portion of valvula I expanded outwards. Valvula II ( Figs 31–33 ), in lateral view, expanded beyond basal curvature; dorsal margin convex, bearing about 20 teeth; basal portion of most teeth projected dorsally, their posterior portion flat, apical teeth triangular; denticles distributed on teeth and on dorsal and ventral apical portions of blade (ventral denticulate apical portion longer than dorsal portion); preapical prominence distinct; apex obtuse; valvula with ducts extending towards teeth and apex. Gonoplac ( Fig. 34 ) of the usual Cicadellinae type: in lateral view, with basal half narrow; apical half expanded, gradually narrowing towards apex; latter obtuse; tiny denticuli on apical portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin.

Material examined. Male holotype: “ RIO DE JANEIRO \ JARD . [Jardim] BOTÂNICO \ H.S. LOPES 2-935 [February, 1935]” ( MNRJ). Paratypes: 1♀, “ RIO DE JANEIRO \ GAVEA [Gávea] 11-V- 937 [1937] \ H. SOUZA LOPES ” ( MNRJ); 1♂, “ Rio de Janeiro \ RJ [Rio de Janeiro] VII/1972 \ M. Alvarenga ” ( DZUP) .

Etymology. The new species is named in honor of the eminent late Brazilian naturalist Hugo de Souza Lopes, who collected the holotype and one of the paratypes.

Remarks. See notes above on A. elianeae sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 18–26. Amblyscarta souzalopesi sp. nov., male. 18. Body, dorsal view. 19. Body, lateral view. 20. Face, frontal view. 21. Genital capsule, lateral view. 22. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view. 23. Connective and style, dorsal view. 24. Aedeagus, lateral view (type-locality). 25. Apical portion of aedeagus, ventral view. 26. Variation in the form of the aedeagus, lateral view (type-locality).

FIGURES 27–34. Amblyscarta souzalopesi sp. nov., female. 27. Distal portion of abdomen, ventral view. 28. Distal portion of abdomen, lateral view. 29. First valvifer and first valvula, lateral view. 30. Apical portion of first valvula. 31–33. Second valvula. 31. Lateral view. 32. Teeth at median portion. 33. Apical portion. 34. Second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view.