A new genus, Cavichiana, is described for a new species of Cicadellini, C. bromelicola, from Southeastern Brazil (states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo). The new genus can be distinguished from other genera of the Cicadellini by the following combination of features: (1) head deltoid, strongly produced anteriorly; (2) ocelli located distinctly anterad of anterior eye angles; (3) aedeagus tubular, elongate, its apex with a conspicuous crown of spines; (4) paraphyses with both stalk and rami elongate, rami slender and each with basidorsal dentiform projection. The new species has a distinctive color pattern. The dorsum is dark brown to black with contrasting blue to white spots. The anterior half of the fore wings has a large, circular transcommissural yellow macula bordered by a blue to white border, the anterior portion of this macula covering the scutellum. Specimens of the new species were found on leaves of bromeliads in areas of restinga (sand dune vegetation) of the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. Other cases of association between hemipterans and bromeliads are listed and briefly discussed.
Two new species of the Neotropical sharpshooter genus Desamera Young are described and illustrated from Brazil: Desamera eliasi sp. nov. from Amazonas and Rondônia States and D. paraensis sp. nov. from Pará State. Desamera is for the first time recorded from northern and westcentral Brazil. The two new species can be recognized mainly by the aedeagal morphology. The female genitalia in Desamera are for the first time described in detail. Additional notes on the only other known species of the genus, D. intersecta (Germar), are provided.
The female genitalia of the Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) are usually considered more morphologically conservative (i.e., less variable) than the male genitalia at the generic and specific levels. However, various recent publications on the Cicadellinae (sharpshooters) have demonstrated the existence of useful characters in the female genitalia for the recognition of genera and species. Here we describe, illustrate, compare, and discuss peculiar processes, sclerites, and other features of the first pair of valvifers, sternite VIII, and ovipositor valvulae I and II of five species of the sharpshooter genus Erythrogonia (E. calva (Taschenberg, 1884), E. hertha Medler, 1963, E. phoenicea (Signoret, 1853), E. proterva Melichar, 1926, and E. sexguttata (Fabricius, 1803)). This genus includes currently the highest species diversity among the New World Cicadellinae, an agriculturally important subfamily. Comparative notes on other genera of the Cicadellini are added. In agreement with other recent publications, our results challenge the view that the morphology of the female genitalia is almost always conservative in the Cicadellidae.
Proconosama takiyae sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Ecuador. The new taxon can be distinguished from the other six known species of Proconosama Young, 1968 by the following combination of features: (1) pronotum with a large transverse yellow macula; (2) forewings with a large yellow macula on the basal portion of clavus; (3) male pygofer processes extremely elongate, slender, their inferior portions curved medially and crossing each other below the aedeagus; (4) preatrium of aedeagus with a pair of conspicuous sclerites directed dorsally; (5) aedeagal shaft extremely small compared to the size of the atrium. The female of Proconosama alalia (Distant, 1908) is described and illustrated based on material from Peru. This is the first detailed description of the genitalia of a female Proconosama. A preliminary key to the species (males) of the genus is provided.
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