DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.38.e60598

Authors: Wei Wang, Yongzhong Cui, Xiaoming Chen, Nawaz Haider Bashir, Hang Chen

Abstract: Plants and insects have co-existed for millions of years. Although research has been conducted on various insect species that induce galls on various plant tissues, information is particularly scarce when it comes to insects that form galls on the tough trunk of their host plants. This contribution describes the gall-inducing aphid Nipponaphis hubeiensis sp. nov. from the Zhushan County, Shiyan City, Hubei Province of China. This aphid induces enclosed galls with woody external layer on the trunk of Sycopsis sinensis (Saxifragales: Hamamelidaceae), an uncommon ecological niche in the aphid-plant interaction system. Morphological features for the identification of new species are provided. In addition, a partial sequence of the nuclear gene EF1α was amplified and sequenced to construct a cluster graph. Based on the clustering graph combined with morphology traits, the gall-forming aphid was classified into Nipponaphis. The unique ecological habits of this new aphid will bring innovative perspectives to the study of the evolution and diversity in aphid-host interaction.

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DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.37.e38783

Authors: Victor Quintas, Daniela M. Takiya, Isabele Côrte, Gabriel Mejdalani

Abstract: Cavichiana Mejdalani et al., 2014 was a formerly monotypic Cicadellinae genus exclusively found in bromeliads from southeastern Brazil. Here a new species is described, diagnosed, and illustrated from Itatiaia National Park, municipality of Itamonte, state of Minas Gerais (Mantiqueira mountain range); specimens were collected on Vriesea spp. (Bromeliaceae). Cavichiana alpina sp. nov. (male holotype in DZRJ) can be recognized by the following combination of features: (1) forewing clavus with basal portion and area along commissural margin orange, remainder of claval area blue (except dark brown apex); (2) corium with large blue area adjacent to claval sulcus, connected to blue area of clavus; (3) distal portion of female and male pygofer not sclerotized; (4) aedeagus with distinct basidorsal lobe and with apex narrowly rounded, not bearing crown of spines; and (5) female sternite VII with deep V-shaped posterior emargination. Notes on the distribution of the genus are provided and C. bromelicola Mejdalani et al., 2014 is newly recorded from southern Brazil.

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DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.35.e21232

Authors: Thereza de Almeida Garbelotto, Ana Paula Leite Kochenborger, Luiz Alexandre Campos

Abstract: Lineostethus Ruckes, 1966 has four species, L. clypeatus (Stål, 1862), L. graziae Hildebrand & Becker, 1982, L. marginellus (Stål, 1872), and L. tenebricornis (Ruckes, 1957); mostly restricted to Central America, but with distribution records in the southern North America. Lineostethus is one of the discocephaline genera with discoid head. The last review of the genus, from the 1980’s, focused on the genital morphology and failed to provide updated descriptions or a key to species. We had access to material from different collections, including several specimens representing new species of Lineostethus, and males of L. marginellus which shows important variations in genital morphology. Here we update the generic description of Lineostethus and its known species and describe the new species Lineostethus acuminatus sp. nov. (holotype male in DZUP: Costa Rica, Guanacaste), Lineostethus auritus sp. nov. (holotype male in AMNH: Mexico, Oaxaca), Lineostethus otarus sp. nov. (holotype male in AMNH: Mexico, Michoacán) and Lineostethus sinuosus sp. nov. (holotype male in DZUP: Mexico, Yucatán). Additionally, we provide identification keys and distribution maps.

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DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.35.e13882

Authors: Alexandre Cruz Domahovski, Rodney Ramiro Cavichioli

Abstract: Two new species of Polana (Hobemanella) Mckamey, 2006 are described and illustrated from Brazil: Polana (H.) alvarengai sp. nov., from the states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia and Pará, which can be recognized by the aedeagal shaft with subapical group of eight spine-like processes on each side of shaft, on ventral surface; and Polana (H.) arcana sp. nov., from the state of Paraná, which can be recognized by the aedeagus with pair of elongated processes arising at base, almost as long as shaft length and parallel to shaft. A key to the 19 known species of Polana (Hobemanella) is presented.

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