Abstract
The treehopper genus Nasuconia Sakakibara, 2006 previously included four species and was recorded only from Brazil. Here we provide a revised diagnosis of the genus and describe three new species: Nasuconia ellenfutterae sp. nov. from Ecuador, Nasuconia guianensis sp. nov. from French Guiana and Nasuconia yasuni sp. nov. from Ecuador. The genus can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: frontoclypeus conical with transverse grooves, obliquely projected forward at least 1/3 of its length beyond suprantennal margin; pronotum navicular, low, punctate, with longitudinal elevated lines or nodes; first valvulae with ventral interlocking device distinctively sinuate. Two informal species groups are recognized based on characters of the head, forewing and leg chaetotaxy. A key to species, photographs, updated morphological descriptions, and the first descriptions of the female and male genitalia of Nasuconia species are provided. Comparisons of cucullate setae and fine abdominal integument structures are also made using scanning electron microscopy.
References
- Burmeister, H. (1835) Membracina. In: Handbuch der Entomologie. G. Reimer, Berlin, pp. 143.
- Cavichioli, R.R. & Takiya, D.M. (2012) Description of a new species of Wolfniana and new records of Rotigonalia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Zoologia, 29 (1), 85–88. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-46702012000100011
- Cavichioli, R.R. & Mejdalani, G. (2015) A new species of the sharpshooter genus Cardioscarta (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Bolivia and Peru. Zoologia, 33 (1), e20150110. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689zool-20150110
- Deitz, L.L. (1975) Classification of the higher categories of the New World treehoppers (Homoptera: Membracidae). North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin, Raleigh, 225, 177 pp.
- Dietrich, C.H. (1989) Surface Sculpturing of the abdominal integument of Membracidae and other Auchenorrhyncha. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 91 (2), 143–152.
- Dietrich, C.H., McKamey S.H. & Deitz L.L. (2001) Morphology-based phylogeny of the treehopper family Membracidae (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Membracoidea). Systematic Entomology, 26, 213–239. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3113.2001.00140.x
- Funkhouser, W.D. (1927) Membracidae. General Catalogue of the Hemiptera. Fasc. 1. Northampton, Massachusetts, Smith College, 581 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6822
- Fonseca, J.P. (1934) Um novo genero de Membracidae (Homoptera). Revista de Entomologia, 4 (3), 351–354.
- McKamey, S.H. (1998) Taxonomic catalogue of the Membracoidea (exclusive of leafhoppers). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 60, 1–177.
- Mejdalani, G. (1998) Morfologia externa dos Cicadellinae (Homoptera, Cicadellidae): Comparação entre Versigonalia ruficauda (Walker) (Cicadellini) e Tetrogonia cribrata Melichar (Proconiini), com notas sobre outras espécies e anàlise da terminologia. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 15 (2), 451–544. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81751998000200015
- Metcalf, Z.P. (1952) New names in Homoptera. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 42 (7), 226–231.
- Metcalf, Z.P. & Wade, V. (1965) General Catalogue of the Homoptera. A supplement to fascicle I – Membracidae of the General Catalogue of the Hemiptera. Membracoidea. Section I. Raleigh: North Carolina State University, 743 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.6822
- Pecly, H,N., Takiya, M,D. & Mejdalani, G. (2019) A new species of the sharpshooter genus Dasmeusa (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini) from Central Amazon. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 63 (4), 343–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbe.2019.08.002
- Sakakibara, A.M. (2006) A new genus and three new species of treehopper Tribe Darnini (Hemiptera, Membracidae). Biociências, 14 (2), 189–192.
- Snodgrass, R.E. (1993) Principles of insects morphology. New York, 667 pp. https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501717918
- Stål, C. (1862) Bidrag till Rio Janeiro-traktens Hemipter-fauna II. Öfversigt af Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar, 3 (6), 1–75.
- Walker, F. (1862) Characters of undescribed species of Homoptera in the Collection of F.P. Pascoe, F.L.S. Journal of Entomology: descriptive and geographical, 5, 303–319.