Takiyaella mejdalanii Gonçalves & Domahovski 2021, gen. et sp. nov.

Takiyaella mejdalanii gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 83EC235F-172B-4A24-BC70-66CF0586F9C9

Figs 8–9, 12I–J, 13

Diagnosis

Male pygofer (Fig. 8E) strongly expanded apically, with apical lobe. Aedeagus (Fig. 8J–K) with atrial processes large, flattened laterally, directed caudally and bent dorsally; shaft short, flattened laterally on basal half and dorsoventrally on apical half, apex expanded with laterodorsal spiniform projections. Anal tube (Fig. 8E) with basal portion produced anteroventrally bearing moderately long basiventral acute teeth.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a tribute to Prof. Dr Gabriel Mejdalani in recognition of his remarkable contribution to our knowledge of the Brazilian Cicadellidae.

Material examined

Holotype BRAZIL • ♂; Minas Gerais, Catas Altas, R[eserva] P[articular do] P[atrimônio] N[atural] Santuário do Caraça, Ribeirão Caraça, Cascatona; 20°4′17.8″ S, 43°29′17.7″ W; alt. 1200 m; 17 Mar. 2015; A.L.D. Ferreira leg.; sweep; DZRJ-AUCH #246; DZRJ.

Paratypes BRAZIL – Minas Gerais • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; DZRJ-AUCH #247; DZRJ • 1 ♂; Catas Altas, RPPN Santuário do Caraça, Trilha Bocaina; 20°6′35.2″ S, 43°29′12″ W; alt. 1289 m; 16 Mar. 2015; C.H. Dietrich leg.; sweep; DZRJ-AUCH #248; DZRJ • 1 ♂; São Gonçalo do Rio de Baixo, Estação Ambiental de Peti, Cemig; 21 Feb. 2002; A.F. Kumagai leg.; Malaise trap; DZUP-083608; DZUP • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 29 Nov. 2002; DZUP-083609; DZUP • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 13 Dec. 2002; DZUP-083610; DZUP • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Jan. 2003; DZUP-083611; DZUP.

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Holotype (♂): total length 6. Paratypes (♂): 6.0–6.5 (n = 4); (♀) 6.8–6.9 (n = 2).

COLORATION. Pale yellow (Fig. 12I–J). Forewing (Fig. 8D) translucent, with three dark maculae on claval comissure: first, between base and second anal vein; second, between anal veins and third on apex of clavus and extending to brachial cell.

HEAD AND THORAX. External morphological characters as in generic description.

MALE TERMINALIA. Pygofer, in lateral view (Fig. 8E), 1.3 × as long as maximum height, strongly expanded apically, apical portion twice as high as basal portion; dorsal margin slightly concave medially; caudal margin truncated with small ventral rounded lobe; ventral tooth slightly rounded; apical portion with inner integument thickening. Subgenital plate, in lateral view (Fig. 8F), subtriangular, 2.6 × as long as maximum height, narrowing at apical fourth; in ventral view (Fig. 8G), cordiform, lateral margins converging towards apex; ventral surface with pair of uniseriate rows of 2–3 macrosetae; apex acutely rounded. Connective (Fig. 8H) V-shaped, total length approximately ⅔ length of style; stem short. Style (Fig. 8H–I) with dorsal margin of apodeme rounded; apophysis elongated and robust. Aedeagus (Fig. 8J–K) with pair of large atrial processes, approximately ½ length of shaft, flattened laterally, posterior to curvature of the shaft, directed caudally and bent dorsally, wide at base and narrowing towards acute apex; shaft short, flattened laterally on basal half and dorsoventrally on apical half; apex slightly expanded with 2–3 pairs of laterodorsal spiniform projections. Anal tube (Fig. 8E) with sternite X long and tubular, basal portion produced anteroventrally bearing moderately long basiventral acute teeth.

FEMALE TERMINALIA. Sternite VII (Fig. 9A–C) slightly wider than long; lateral margins parallel. First valvula of ovipositor (Fig. 6F) with dorsal sculptured area areolate-strigate. Other characters as in generic description.

Remarks

Takiyaella mejdalanii gen. et sp. nov. resembles T. cavichiolii gen. et sp. nov. and T. sexguttata gen. et comb. nov. by the apical portion of the aedeagus with lateral spiniform projections (Figs 3K, 8K, 10J). However, T. mejdalanii gen. et sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by the shape of the male pygofer, strongly expanded apically (Fig. 8E) and by the shape and direction of the atrial processes of the aedegus (Fig. 8J–K).