Problematode sakakibarai Gaiani 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Gaiani, Marco A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Membracidae
Problematode
Problematode sakakibarai

description: Problematode sakakibarai Gaiani sp. nov.
(Figs. 1–2, 5–9, 11–12, 18–21)
Diagnosis. Both sexes display a flat “keel-like” process on the posterior half of the pronotum (reminiscent of a shark’s dorsal fin in lateral view), sexually dimorphic in shape (Figs. 6–7). Pygofer with ventral margin strongly sinuate (Fig. 21).
Description. Adult s. Dimensions (mm): Total length ♂ 8.3, ♀ 9.3; width of head including eyes ♂ 2.6, ♀ 2.8; width between humeral angles ♂ 2.7, ♀ 2.9; pronotal length ♂ 1.9, ♀ 1.9; wing length ♂ 6.6, ♀ 7.9. Coloration. Body with long pale pubescence; overall integument color light brown; dorsal projections of head, posterior pronotal keel, base of pronotal area and scutellum, and claval area of forewings dark brown; apex of all femora, apex and base of all tibia, mid-section of hind tibia, and all tarsi brown; meso-basisternites black; abdominal sternites I–VI dark brown medially. Yellow markings on basal anterior margin of pronotal ridge, apical third of scutellum, and lateral posterior pronotal margin. Structure: Head. Broad, wider than long, with long pubescence, dorsal projections small and triangular; ocelli raised above surface. Thorax: Pronotum. Densely punctate, covered with pale decumbent setae; middorsal ridge slightly produced, extending over full length of pronotum, with sexually dimorphic posterior dorsal crest, decumbent caudally in males, erect and perpendicular to pronotal surface in females (Figs. 1, 6–7). Anterior margin with submarginal scars in two fields separated by a pilose area (Fig. 9). Scutellum. Basal 1/3rd raised, apical third with a slight median depression. Legs. Prothoracic and mesothoracic femora with raised tubercle on hind margin; metathoracic tibiae with three enlarged setal rows, each bearing cucullate setae (row I with 23–30 cucullate setae, row II with 6–7, and row III with 15–17). Forewing (Fig. 11). Basal half slightly thickened, punctate; with one or two m-cu crossveins, apical half with a plexus of veins (specimens examined differ in the number of crossveins on left and right forewings); A2 bent anteriorly, joining A1 on apical fourth of clavus. Genitalia. Lateral plates fused to pygofer (line of fusion not evident), ventral margin situate in lateral view (Fig. 21); styles (Fig. 20) elongate, slender, hooked apically; aedeagus (Figs. 1 8–19) strongly U-shaped, widened at middle and tapering apically, posterior face of apex denticulate. Female as in generic description.
Nymphs. Unknown.
Etymology: I am pleased to name this remarkable species after Dr. Albino Sakakibara, in honor of his immense contribution to the knowledge of the Neotropical Membracoidea.
Distribution. VENEZUELA: Aragua State.
Material examined. 1♂ (Holotype), VENEZUELA, Aragua, Rancho Grande, Portachuelo, 1100 m, 23-V- 1975, “al vuelo”, J. Salcedo & J.A. Clavijo cols. MIZA 0098872; 1♀ (Paratype), VENEZUELA, Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 20/4/1968, J. & B. Bechyné cols, MIZA 0098885 (all specimens at MIZA).
description: Published as part of Gaiani, Marco A., 2017, Problematode: an enigmatic new genus of Membracidae (Hemiptera) with two new species from Venezuela in Zootaxa 4281 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4281.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/815782