Rachel A. Carvalho

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the leafhopper genus Scoposcartula (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Abstract A taxonomic study and a phylogenetic analysis of the neotropical genus Scoposcartula Young were carried out based on characters of the external morphology and male and female genitalia. A key to the species of the genus and descriptions of the species that were not treated in detail in recent taxonomic papers are provided. Tettigonia sistens Walker, 1858 was found to be a junior subjective synonym of Scoposcartula basimacula (Walker, 1851). Some peculiar characters of the female genitalia were described and included in the analysis, such as a transverse sclerotised line on pygofer, a structure on the base of the first valvulae of ovipositor (herein named prevalvifer area), and teeth of the second valvulae of ovipositor with two tips (cusps) and a posterior flat area. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 82 characters, yielded four equally most parsimonious trees that recovered a monophyletic Scoposcartula.

Remarkable morphological features of taxonomic interest in the female genitalia of five Erythrogonia species (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae)

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.

A new species of Fingeriana (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini)

Fingeriana reflexa sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in Camacan (Bahia) and Santa Teresa (Espirito Santo), Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from F. dubia Cavichioli, 2003 by the aedeagus narrowed towards the apex, with an apical pair of small triangular projections, and with a basal process laterally flattened and bent anteriorly on the apical portion. Notes comparing Fingeriana Cavichioli, 2003 to the similar Nielsonia Young, 1977 are provided.

Phylogenetic placement and taxonomy of the Neotropical sharpshooter genus Desamera Young, with description of its sister group, Ciccamera gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae)

The genus Desamera Young is reviewed, including its diagnosis, redescription of D. intersecta (Germar), description of three new species (D. manauara sp. nov. and D. viridimaculata sp. nov. from Brazil, and D. youngi sp. nov. from Brazil and Peru), and a key to males of all six known species. A phylogenetic analysis with 12 terminal taxa, based on 65 morphological (head, thorax, male and female genitalia) and colour pattern characters, yielded four most parsimonious trees. The monophyly of Desamera was recovered in all the trees with high support indices. In addition, the analysis recovered a non-monophyletic Ciccus Latreille, a genus previously hypothesized to be closely related to Desamera. Ciccus viridivitta (Walker) appeared closer to Ciccamera hamata gen. et sp. nov. than to the type-species of Ciccus, C. adspersus (Fabricius). Thus, Ciccus viridivitta was transferred to Ciccamera, which was recovered as the sister group of Desamera.

A new genus and new bromelicolous species of Cicadellini (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Southeastern Brazil

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 Brazilian species of the Neotropical sharpshooter genus Ruppeliana (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Two new Ruppeliana Young, 1977 species are described and illustrated based on specimens from the states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species are easily distinguished from other Ruppeliana Young, 1977 by their color pattern. Ruppeliana caelimaculata sp. nov. has red to dark red forewings with whitish-blue transverse maculae, and R. flavivirescens sp. nov. has brownish-red forewings with greenish-yellow longitudinal stripes. The female genitalia are for the first time described and illustrated in detail for species of the genus.

On the identification of two Brazilian leafhoppers: redescription of Scoposcartula frontaliana comb. nov. and description of the female of S. talitae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini)

This paper deals with two species of Scoposcartula Young, 1977 that are very similar to each other externally (form and color pattern): S. frontaliana (Metcalf, 1955) comb. nov. (from the state of Bahia, NE. Brazil) and S. talitae Leal, Mejdalani & Cavichioli, 2005 (from the state of Espirito Santo, SE. Brazil). The former species, previously positioned in Amblyscarta Stal, 1869, is redescribed and a male specimen is selected as the lectotype. The previously unknown female of the latter species is described for the first time. Scoposcartula frontaliana can be distinguished from S. talitae by features of the male and female genitalia. The most remarkable difference is in the male pygofer, which has a conspicuously concave posterior margin in S. frontaliana, whereas it is convex in S. talitae. The posterior margin of the female sternite VII is convex in S. frontaliana, whereas in S. talitae it has a pair of shallow concavities and a median dentiform projection.

Notes on Neotropical Proconiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae). VI: description of the male of Deselvana falleni from the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil

The male of the leafhopper Deselvana falleni (Stal, 1858) is for the first time described and illustrated based on material from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Notes comparing D. falleni to other species of Deselvana Young, 1968 are given. Males and females of D. falleni can be recognized by the dark brown to black dorsum with four well-defined yellow maculae on each forewing, two on clavus and two on corium. The sexual dimorphism of color found in other Deselvana species was not observed in D. falleni.

Two new species of the Neotropical genus Hanshumba Young from Brazil (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini)

Hanshumba similis sp. n. and H. cavichiolii sp. n., from Southeastern and Southern Brazil, respectively, are described and illustrated. The two new species and the type species of the genus H. brasura Young are very similar externally, but they can be distinguished by their male genitalia. Taxonomic notes comparing the Hanshumba species and illustrations of the female genital structures of H. brasura are given. A key with male and female characters to the three known species is included. Duas espécies novas do Sudeste e do Sul do Brasil, respectivamente, Hanshumba similis sp. n. e H. cavichiolii sp. n., são descritas e ilustradas. As espécies novas e a espécie‐tipo do gênero, H. brasura Young, são muito similares externamente, contudo elas podem ser diferenciadas por características da genitália masculina. São fornecidas notas taxonômicas comparando as espécies de Hanshumba e ilustrações das estruturas genitais femininas de H. brasura. Uma chave com caracteres masculinos e femininos para as três espécies conhecidas é incluída.

Two new species of Zyzzogeton Breddin and the female of Z. haenschi Breddin (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Proconiini).

Two new species of the leafhopper genus Zyzzogeton Breddin are described and illustrated: Z. emmrichi sp. nov. from Colombia and Z. guatemalensis sp. nov. from Guatemala. The two new taxa can be distinguished from the three other known species of the genus by their colour patterns and by the form of the apical processes of the aedeagus. A key to the species of Zyzzogeton is provided. The genus is newly recorded from Guatemala, which is its northernmost known record. Taxonomic and morphological data on Zyzzogeton and its species are added, including the first description of the female genitalia in the genus (Z. haenschi Breddin).