Faltala viscacha Zahniser 2021, n. sp.
Creators: name: Zahniser, James N.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hemiptera
Cicadellidae
Faltala
Faltala viscacha

description: Faltala viscacha n. sp.
(Figs. 1T–V, 37–38)
Diagnosis. F. viscacha can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the male pygofer posteroventral apex terminating in a downturned claw-like spine, caudal margin of pygofer with upturned tooth situated at apex of lobelike extension, and aedeagus with a narrow shaft arising ventrally from base of aedeagus.
Body. Male, 3.4–3.7 mm. Female 4.3–4.5 mm.
Color. As in genus description.
Male. Pygofer roughly triangular in lateral view; sclerotized dorsally for ~1/4 entire length of pygofer; with two lobe-like extensions arising from anterodorsal rim of pygofer, extending anterad; dorsal margin sloping ventrad on posterior 2/3; ventral margin undulate, apex terminating in ventrally directed claw-like spine; posterodorsal margin with long process widening toward apex, terminating with upturned tooth; without macrosetae. Valve triangular. Subgenital plate triangular; apex rounded; anterolateral margin with slight lateral extension for 2/5 length of plate; without macrosetae; dorsal side with anterolateral lobe articulating with style, with median groove for 1/2 length of plate. Style preapical lobe angulate, nearly at right angle; apophysis concave laterally, broad at base and with slight constriction medially forming digitate apex, with preapical tooth ventrally, with tuberculate texture on ventral side. Aedeagus with base narrow in lateral view; shaft narrow and arising ventrally from base, long and rounded anterodorsally; shaft flattened on apical 1/3; gonopore preapical on posterodorsal side. Segment X membranous dorsally and laterally; sclerotized ventrally, funnel shaped. Phragma with short Y-shaped plate articulating with dorsal rim of aedeagal base, stem directed anteriorly; with sclerotized hemispherical bulbs articulating posteriorly with dorsal rim of aedeagus, continuous with membranous part of phragma connecting to inner wall of pygofer.
Female. Sternite VII broadly excavated; length of excavation ~1/3 longest length at posterolateral lobe; posterolateral points distinct, slightly digitate; uncleared specimens with narrow black line marginally or submarginally.
Material examined. HOLOTYPE: 1♂, ARGENTINA, Entre Ríos Prov., P.N. El Palmar, jct. Pref. Naval, 31.87321°S W 58.21846°W, 33m., 14-II-2014, JN Zahniser, vacuum, AR14-22 [MLPA]. PARATYPES: 4♂, 5♀, same data as holotype. 1♂: ARGENTINA, Entre Ríos Prov., P.N. El Palmar, ca. entrance, 31.85316°S 58.31636°W, 30m., 15-II-2014, JN Zahniser, AR14-25; 1♂, 1♀, 2n: ARGENTINA, Entre Ríos Prov., P.N. El Palmar, Mirador Los Loros 31.86141°S 58.22875°W, 24m., 13-II-2014, JN Zahniser, AR14-17. 2♂: ARGENTINA, La Pampa Prov., P.N. Lihué Calel, 38.00251°S 65.59337°W, 5-II-2014, JN Zahniser, AR14-2. 1♀: ARGENTINA: Entre Rios, P.N. El Palmar, Mirador Ao., 15-II-2014, 21 m., 31.89149ºS 58.24071ºW, AR14-27, J.N. Zahniser. 1♂, 1♀: URUGUAY Colonia Dept., Arroyo San Pedro, Ruta 21 km 194, 1-I-2000, G.J. Wibmer [INHS, MLPA, USNM].
Distribution. F. viscacha is known from Argentina (Entre Ríos & La Pampa Prov.) and Uruguay (Colonia Dept.).
Etymology. The species name refers to the plains viscacha, Lagostomus maximus (Desmarest), which co-inhabits grassland areas of southern South America with the newly described leafhopper species. It is considered a noun.
Remarks. Specimens were swept and vacuumed from large bunch grasses in P.N. Lihué Calel (Figs. 1Q–R, T–V) and collected on grasses in P.N. El Palmar.
description: Published as part of Zahniser, James N., 2021, Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery, pp. 1-160 in Zootaxa 4954 (1) on pages 63-65, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4954.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4690775