Pintalia magnaepiprocti Santos sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CAF23604-E8FC-4508-A6B5-7DF4D98D6CD6

(Figs. 25 A–F; 26 A–G; 27 A–H; 28)

Type material. Holotype: Male Brazil, MG. Presidente Olegário municipality, Lapa Vereda da Palha cave (UTM 380963W, 7981204S, 23K), 13.x.2010, (Ferreira, R.L.) (ISLA 100957). Holotype condition: not dissected, stored individually vials with ethanol 70%. Paratypes. Same data as holotype, except for 1♂ (ISLA 100958) (dissected); 1♂ (ISLA 2761).

Description. Coloration (specimen preserved in 70% ethanol). As in P. minuta sp. nov., body generally strong orange yellow (68), contrasting with regions in deep yellowish brown (75) of the carinae, and brilliant orange yellow (67) between the lateral carinae of mesonotum. Head, legs, and abdomen ventrally in Light orange yellow (70). Tegmina hyaline, with very light spots in yellowish gray (93), pterostigma region is clearer in pale orange yellow (73).

Body length. Male. 3.4–3.7 mm (n = 3).

Head. Vertex (Fig. 25A, C): approximately 2.0 times wider (0.4) than long (0.2); apical compartment small and laterally narrow, approx. 2.5 times wider (0.2) than medially long (0.08); apical transverse carina (0.279) slightly larger than the subapical carina (0.242); the angle formed by the caudal margin usually concave. Frons (Fig. 25B): 1.5 times longer (0.9) than wide (0.6), approx. 3.0 times wider medially than apically (0.2); anterior region of the frons, narrow laterally and moderately concave apically. Frontoclypeal suture semicircular, well bent upwards in the middle and straight laterally. Postclypeus (Fig. 25B): median carina weakly developed. Anteclypeus (Fig. 25B): median carina moderately developed, more carinated from the second half distally suture anterior to the clypeus. Rostrum in ventral view surpassing the middle of the abdomen, almost reaching the base of the pygofer.

Thorax. Pronotum (Figs. 25A, C): submedian carina weakly developed, well evanescent behind the eyes; hind margin obtusely angled. Mesonotum (Fig. 25A): median carina weakly developed or evanescent; lateral carinae strongly developed. Tegmina (forewings) (Figs. 25D): length 6.2 mm; the tegmina spots in parts as in P. minuta sp. nov. and P. minima sp. nov.; fork of ScP+RA and RP, ahead of forks CuA1 and CuA2; r-m1 occurring distally mcu-1 and together the first MP fork; m-cu1 occurs proximally the first MP fork; simple tubercles in all veins; punctual anastomosis RP2.2+RP2.3; 12 apical cells; 7 subapical cells.

Posterior legs. Hind tibia (Fig. 25E): approximately 2.3 mm; with 4 lateral spines, the two closest to the femur being small. 1 st tarsomere (Fig. 25F): 7 apical teeth of approx. the same size, one lateral larger. 2 nd tarsomere (Fig. 25F): 8 apical teeth, the outer 2 larger and the middle ones smaller; 3 thin setae, one separated by apical teeth without setae.

Male terminalia. Pygofer (Figs. 26A–C, G): bilaterally asymmetric; in right lateral view, dorsocaudal margin angulated medially; dorsal margin concave; caudal margin straight; in left lateral view, dorsal and caudal margin completely linear, without angular process medially; in ventral view, ventromedian process triangular, rounded apically, well crooked to right lateral. Anal tube (Figs. 26A–C; 27A–C): bilaterally asymmetric; "crooked" to right lateral; ventrally excavated and elevated dorsally; in lateral view, larger medially than at the distal margin; distal margin thin and flattened dorsoventrally; in caudal view, epiproct long, tubular and pointed at the distal margin; in right lateral view, paraproct long, quadratic and flattened dorsoventrally, bent towards the base of the anal tube ventrally; distal margin triangular with a small process medially. Genital styles (Figs. 26A–C, G; 27D–F): bilaterally asymmetric; in right lateral view, right genital style with apical portion large and very rounded; in left lateral view, left genital style with apical portion smaller, slightly angulate. Aedeagus (Figs. 26D–F; 27G–I) tubular, asymmetrical. Shaft of the aedeagus exhibit three movable spines elongated and thin; in right lateral view with two long spines of approximately the same size, 1 st spine almost straight (a) occurs apically on the shaft; 2 nd spine curved (b), occurs apically on the shaft near the first spine and towards to flagellum; in left lateral view, 3 rd spine long and curved (c), occurs apically on the shaft, reaching the base of the shaft dorsally; ventral ridge large and without processes, occurs dorsally near base of shaft. Flagellum, narrow and without spines.

Etymology. The specific epithet magnaepiprocti comes from the junction of the Latin magnus meaning large and epiproct structure of the anal tube, highly developed in males, thus magnaepiprocti would mean large epiproct, referring to the hypertrophic epiproct of this species.

Diagnosis. P. magnaepiprocti sp. nov. can be distinguished from other species of the genus Pintalia mainly by components of the male terminalia, which is very asymmetrical with a distinct anal tube, where the epiproct is cylindrical and long and cone-shaped, and the paraproct is quadratic/large, flattened dorsally and bent to ventral region.

Distribution. BRA, MG; Presidente Olegário municipality, Lapa Vereda da Palha cave (Type locality).

Remarks. Pintalia magnaepiprocti sp. nov. is known only from the type locality, Lapa Vereda da Palha cave, Presidente Olegário municipality, MG, BRA. The caves in the region are widely studied and the troglobiont status of some species has been discussed recently (e.g. Salvador et al. 2021, Ferreira et al. 2023, Salvador et al. 2024). P. magnaepiprocti does not present evident troglomorphisms, but its morphology is discrepant from the other species of the genus and the group in which it was placed. In addition to the presumed endemism, the most evident characteristic that may indicate adaptations to the subterranean environment in the species is the reduction of the pigmented region in the compound eyes, which perhaps indicates a reduction of functional ommatidia, although this is only speculation. The species also exhibits the unique characteristic of a highly developed epiproct, not observed in any other fulgoromorph species, evidencing its morphological isolation in the group. In some cases, it has been observed that in the case of troglomorphisms, behavior may precede morphology (Christiansen, 1965; Howarth, 2019). P. magnaepiprocti sp. nov. also presents a marked degree of bilateral asymmetry throughout the body, a condition still little explored in cave invertebrates. Sket (2008) stated that there is no biological justification for linking the term "troglobiont" only to the morphology of an organism or to the absence of superficial/epigean ancestors, as there are several factors to be considered in addition to troglomorphy, such as special adaptations, for example: ecology, behavior, life history, between others. Howarth and Moldovan (2018) detailed other characteristics in addition to morphology that may indicate troglomorphisms. Le Cesne et al. 2024 suggests that all species of Cixiidae found inside caves, without specimens collected in the epigean environment, even without sampling efforts in this environment, or evident troglomorphism, should be classified as troglobites due to their life habits. This approach is risky and implies severe consequences in the classification of species or even in conservation laws for troglobitic species in countries such as Brazil. In Brazil, species that have an enigmatic way of life, and that depend on the subterranean environment to complete their entire life cycle, are protected by law. Therefore, in this work only P. magnaepiprocti sp. nov. can be preliminarily classified as a troglobiont.