Microledrida Fowler, 1904

Genus Microledrida Fowler, 1904 View in CoL

Type species: Microledrida asperata Fowler, 1904 , by monotypy

Diagnostic characters. Body strongly dorsoventrally flattened, vertex subtriangular, frons medially broader than long, pronotum as broad as head (incl. eyes). There are no American Cixiini that bear a close similarity to Microledrida .

Amended description. (modified after Kramer, 1983). Small, dorsoventrally flattened cixiids (3.2-4.0 mm). Head in dorsal view about as wide as pronotum, in lateral view comparatively flat and subtriangular, profile angulate (top of head declinate anteriorly), head projecting in front of eyes for distance approximately ½ to ¾ longest eye width; head apex in dorsal view rounded, bearing apical transverse carinae (with triangular lateral areolets defined between subapical and apical transverse carinae), apical areolet of head very small or absent; posterior margin of head broadly incised (often sinuate). Vertex broad and subtriangular, median carina distinct from posterior margin to head apex, subapical transverse carina elevated, converging at head apex. In frontal view, frons very broad, roughly pentagonal; lateral margins of frons foliately carinate and broadly rounded (widest near level of antennae, greatest width exceeding length on longitudinal midline), median carinae distinct (becoming obscure ventrally), not (or barely) forked at dorsal margin. Frontoclypeal suture broadly concave or sinuate; median ocellus small and relatively inconspicuous. Eyes longer than wide (ventrally emarginated above the antennae), projecting caudad. Antennae short, scape ring-like, pedicel bulbous, spheroid, about as tall as wide bearing many sensory placoids; flagellum elongate, bristle-like with bulbous base.

Pronotum at midlength about half length of vertex at midline, median carina distinct (lateral carinae curving laterally with lateal extreme hidden beneath eyes), posterior margin broadly concave. Length of mesonotum at midline exceeding cumulative length of pronotum + vertex; tricarinate. Hind tibiae with one or two distinct lateral spines before apex, spinulation 6(3+3)-6-6. Forewings deflexed at the nodal line, veins bearing prominent granulations with elongate setae prominent. Veinlet icu joins apex of clavus.

Male genitalia: Pygofer broad in lateral view, lateral margins of opening expanded caudally; medioventral process small and rounded, much wider than tall. Aedeagus relatively short and straight, endosoma of aedeagus greatly reduced, phallotheca elaborated with processes.

Remarks. The tribe Cixiini differs from other Neotropical tribes by the presence of three carinae on the mesonotum (vs. Pentastirini and Mnemosynini), wings broadly tectiform (not steeply tectiform, vs. Pintaliini), abdomen lacking lateral processes (vs. Bennarellini), tibiae of hind legs with lateral spines (vs. Oecleini) and forewings without granules within apical cells (vs. Mnemosynini).

In its general habitus, the genus Microledrida resembles the Caribbean delphacid genus Neopunana Asche, 1983 , from which it is immediately separated by the absence of the stiff spine at the apex of the hind tibia, which is unique to the Asiracinae in the family Delphacidae , and the presence of three instead of five carinae on the mesonotum.