The identity of three South American "smiliine" treehoppers (Hemiptera, Membracidae) and related taxonomic changes, including description of a new genus in Thuridini.

Based on examination of holotypes or interpretation of original descriptions, four taxonomic changes are proposed for South American species erroneously placed in the tribe Smiliini: Flynnia, gen. n. (Thuridini) and F. fascipennis (Funkhouser), comb. n. from Bolivia; Antianthe atromarginata (Goding), comb. n. from Ecuador; Amastris pilosa (Funkhouser), comb. n. from Peru; and Thelia planeflava Fairmaire from Brazil to Polyglyptini incertae sedis, new placement.

Introduction

Previously, McKamey and Wallace (2015) evaluated the true identities of South American records of the Nearctic tribe , which had all been the result of errors in labeling, in published distribution, or species that belonged to other subfamilies. Four species of the related tribe () (sensu Wallace 2011) were also described from South America: Funkhouser from Bolivia, Funkhouser from Peru, Goding from Ecuador, and Fairmaire ( but most recently placed in the genus of ) from Brazil. Smiliines are principally Nearctic, with numerous species occurring in the mountains of Central America, and throughout their range usually feed on oaks ( sp.). Because oaks drop out of the flora in northern Colombia, the existence of true smiliines in South America was highly suspect. Examination of three holotypes and one original descriptions of these species revealed their identities as listed below.

Methods

Holotypes of three species were in the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC (USNM). The holotype of the other species could not be located, so its placement is inferred from original descriptions. Morphological terminology follows Deitz (1975).

To examine the holotype of , the abdomen and right metathoracic leg were removed from the specimen and treated with 8-10% KOH for 45 minutes, rinsed with water and then transferred to glycerin for further dissection and examination. After examination, the dissected male genitalia and metathoracic leg were stored in a microvial with fresh glycerin and pinned below the specimen. The head and pronotum, as a unit, were also separated so that the mesonotum could be examined, to possibly infer nymphal structure. This latter separated body part was pointed on the same pin as the head and pronotum.

All images were captured with a Microvision system and Cartograph 8.0.6 automontage software and adjusted in Adobe Photoshop.

Results

Tribe Goding

(Funkhouser) comb. n.

Figs 1–4

Figures 1–4.

(Funkhouser) female holotype in anterior, dorsal, and lateral views, respectively, and labels.

Material examined.

female holotype, Peru (USNM; Figs 1–4).

Discussion.

The holotype, which has its pronotum partially damaged dorsoanteriorly, exhibits all features of Stål, including the forewing veins R and M initially fused then strongly divergent (a character diagnostic for the tribe). Within the tribe only and Stål have tectiform pronota, and has a sturdier pronotum with a yellow lateral margin.

incertae sedis, new placement

Fairmaire, 1846: 306. [sp. n.] Brazil.

;

;

No holotype or other specimen was located. Fairmaire’s (1846) description of translates to: “Prothorax projecting backward, very little elevated, rugosely punctate throughout the head; entirely yellow; base of the abdomen a little orange; forewings hyaline, with the internal margin slightly coated.” He reported it as 6 mm long.

In the mid 1800’s, Fairmaire’s period, the concept of Amyot & Serville contained many unrelated taxa that have since been referred to other tribes and subfamilies. Fairmaire’s (1846) publication is a good example, with three of his species now belonging to Metcalf (: ), Fitch (: ), and Stål (: ). His placement of his fourth, Brazilian species, in , therefore, offers no clues to it’s true identity. It is also unfortunately not illustrated, as were the other species.

In his catalogue, without explanation, Funkhouser (1927) moved from to , and Goding (1929) moved it to Fairmaire. Schmidt (1931) discussed and ultimately included it in his key to , restating Fairmaire’s original description.

Based on Fairmaire’s description, the species’ length, and reported distribution, it is unlikely to be any of the aforementioned genera; , , and have Nearctic distributions (and further, feeds on oaks, which do not occur in Brazil). are larger and apparently confined to high elevations in the Andes Mountains, and are brown.

often have the anterior region of the forewing coriaceous and punctate, which may be what Fairmaire considered “coated” and, while no entirely yellow species are known, most genera have a slightly elevated pronotum that extends backward over the body.

Tribe Deitz

gen. n.

http://zoobank.org/FCB8F8E3-36A3-4B4A-889C-B2CC7D40654E

Type species.

Funkhouser, 1919: 274.

Description.

Head. Vertex with dorsal margin sinuate. highest between ocelli and eyes; ocelli slightly closer to inner margin of eyes than to each other; frontoclypeus evenly rounded ventrally; rostrum attaining abdomen. Thorax. Posterior process of pronotum smooth and finely punctate throughout (Figs 5–7), weakly sinuous in lateral view, slightly overlapping forewings in repose. Mesonotum bare, lacking vestigial scoli. Forewing (Fig. 10) with veins R and M fused basally and strongly divergent near middle of wing, veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent for a short distance and very strongly divergent more distally, 2 m-cu crossveins present, 1st near mid length of wing. Hind wing without r-m crossvein, veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent for short distance and divergent beyond, anal vein unbranched. Metathoracic leg (Fig. 12) without cucullate femoral setae, tibia without cucullate setae in row 1, very few in row II (where the leg is more strongly sclerotized, as indicated by arrows, Fig. 12), first tarsomere with about eight cucullate setae scattered on plantar surface (Fig. 8). Abdomen. Lacking dorsal protrusions or smooth fossae.

Figures 5–9.

(Funkhouser) male holotype. 5–7 Habitus in anterior, dorsal, and lateral views, respectively 8 Right metathoracic tarsus 9 labels.

Figures 10–12.

(Funkhouser) male holotype. 10 left forewing 11 pygofer, subgenital plate, aedeagus 12 Right metathoracic leg. aed, aedeagal shaft, sgp, subgenital plate.

Distribution.

Bolivia and Ecuador.

Etymology.

The genus is feminine and named for Dawn Flynn for her contributions to our knowledge Neotropical treehoppers.

Many of the aforementioned features are diagnostic for the tribe as listed by Deitz (1975): posterior process of pronotum slightly overlapping forewings; forewing with veins R and M fused basally and strongly divergent near middle of wing; veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent for short distance and very strongly divergent more distally; hind wing without r-m crossvein, veins R4+5 and M1+2 confluent for short distance and divergent beyond; metathoracic leg without cucullate femoral setae, tibia without cucullate setae in row I. An additional similarity of the new genus and Funkhouser is presence of about eight cucullate setae on the first tarsomere of the metathoracic leg, and the dark markings on and around the apical veins of the forewing. Some treehoppers that have scoli on the mesonotum, metanotum, or both (e.g., Kirkaldy) have shriveled, vestigial scoli in the adults underneath the pronotum. The absence of vestigial scoli cannot be inferred to mean that the nymph lacks thoracic scoli. Nevertheless, taken together with the absence of dorsally paired processes or fossae on the abdomen, it is more likely that the nymph, unknown, may be unarmored, as is the nymph of (McKamey and Porter 2016). Until now, the tribe was composed of one genus and two species (McKamey and Porter 2016). The new genus is easily distinguished from , which has a strongly keeled pronotum posteriorly. Bolivia represents a new country record for the tribe.

(Funkhouser) comb. n.

Figs 5–9 , 10–12

Funkhouser, 1919: 274 [sp. n.].

Description of male.

Length including wings in repose 3.9 mm, maximum width 1.8 mm. Pronotum, wings, and leg features as described for genus. Pronotum black with small white spot along the lateral margin and white V-shaped band before apex (Fig. 6). Male genitalia (Fig. 11) . Pygofer with lateral plate separated; subgenital plates fused basally to about mid length; styles hooked distally, recurved anterolaterally; aedaeagus U-shaped, shaft weakly expanded, flat anteriorly, margins and surface without dentae or serrations, gonopore posterior.

Female unknown.

male holotype, BOLIVIA (USNM). (Goding) holotype (USNM). Unfortunately the locality label of lacks precision, simply stating “Bolivien” (Fig. 9). One male, ECUADOR: Orellana Prov., Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 km S Onkone Gare Camp Transect Ent. 2163m, 3-Feb-1995, . T.L. Erwin et al. Fogging terre firme forest. Lot#954 (USNM). One male, same data as previous except 6-Jul-1995 and Lot#1115 (USNM).

Subfamily , incertae sedis

(Goding) comb. n.

Figs 13–16

Figures 13–16.

(Goding), comb. n., holotype. 13–15 Habitus in anterior, dorsal, and lateral views, respectively. Note that the extended humeral angles are broken off 16 Holotype labels.

Goding, 1928: 137 [sp. n.].

;

Holotype (USNM). Abdomen, left forewing, and both extended humeral angles missing. The species was described from Ecuador, Guayas Prov., Cerro Manglaralto (Fig. 16).

Goding’s holotype is probably a junior of (Germar), which is also recorded from Ecuador. Wallace (2011) removed Fowler from . The holotype labels (Fig. 16) erroneously spell the species as “marginata” but the species description and locality match the published name “.” The same mistake (and same missing prefix) was made with the holotype (USNM) labels of Goding.