Ruppeliana nigripes ( Signoret, 1853 )

Ruppeliana nigripes ( Signoret, 1853) View in CoL

Figs 6–7 View Fig View Fig

Tettigonia nigripes Signoret, 1853: 370 View in CoL .

Ruppeliana nigripes View in CoL – Young 1977: 751. — Cavichioli et al. 2017: 438 (in key).

Diagnosis

Large and robust sharpshooters, about 12 mm in length ( Fig. 6A–B View Fig ). Overall coloration yellow, forewings brown, with longitudinal yellowish or whitish stripes ( Fig. 6A–B View Fig ). Male pygofer with apex narrowly rounded ( Fig. 6D View Fig ). Subgenital plate not attaining pygofer apex ( Fig. 6D View Fig ). Style long, with apical portion directed outwards and apex rounded ( Fig. 6F View Fig ). Aedeagus shaft expanded preapically, with apex truncated ( Fig. 6G View Fig ). Aedeagal atrium with two pairs of processes: one basidorsal, slender, long, and subparallel, the second preapical, short, and acute ( Fig. 6G–H View Fig ).

Material examined

BRAZIL – São Paulo State • 4 ♀♀; São José do Barreiro, Parque Nacional da Bocaina ; elev. 1300– 1600 m; 16–21 Dec. 2010; R. A. Carvalho leg.; DZUP • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 22°41′43″ S, 44°38′00″ W; elev. 1600 m; 1 Apr. 2010; G. Melo leg.; DZUP GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; M.A. Vulcano leg; DZUP GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; Nov. 1976; F.M. Oliveira leg.; DZUP GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; Mar. 1973; F.M. Oliveira leg.; DZUP GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; R. Spitz leg.; DZUP GoogleMaps .

Description

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Total length. Males: 11.4–12.1 (n = 4), females: 12.1–13.1 (n = 8).

HEAD ( Fig. 6A View Fig ). In dorsal view, moderately produced anteriorly, anterior margin broadly rounded, median length of crown ¼ of interocular width and ⅓ of transocular width. Frons ( Fig. 6C View Fig ), in frontal view, texture slightly granular, muscular impressions indistinct, epistomal suture complete. Clypeus ( Fig. 6C View Fig ), in frontal view, slightly pubescent apically. Pronotum ( Fig. 6A View Fig ), in dorsal view, with lateral margins slightly convergent anteriorly; posterior two-thirds of disk slightly transversely striated medially. Mesonotum ( Fig. 6A View Fig ) texture slightly granulated. Forewings ( Fig. 6A–B View Fig ) veins indistinct; membrane distinct, including inner anteapical cell and posterior third of remaining apical cells; bases of anteapical cells approximately aligned with claval apex. Remaining characteristics of external morphology as described for the genus by Young (1977: 747).

COLORATION. Crown ( Fig. 6A–B View Fig ) yellow. Frons ( Fig. 6C View Fig ) yellow, with a subquadrangular shaped black macula. Clypeus ( Fig. 6C View Fig ) yellow, with a longitudinal brown stripe medially, broadened basally and apically. Lorum and gena ( Fig. 6C View Fig ) yellow. Pronotum ( Fig. 6A View Fig ) yellow, with blackened anterior margin, enlarged medially, a brown longitudinal stripe medially, posterior margin smoky black. Mesonotum ( Fig. 6A View Fig ) yellow, transverse sulcus darkened. Meso and metasternum ( Fig. 6B–C View Fig ) yellow. Forewing ( Fig. 6A–B View Fig ) brown, with three pairs of longitudinal yellow bands, one in clavus, one medially, and one in costal margin, the latter two almost connecting each other transversally. Legs ( Fig. 6B View Fig ) yellow with tibia and distal portions darkened. Abdomen ( Fig. 7A–B View Fig ) brown, with lateral margins paler.

MALE GENITALIA. Pygofer ( Fig. 6D View Fig ), in lateral view, strongly produced posteriorly, dorsal, and ventral margins narrowing after basal third, posterior margin narrowly rounded, macrosetae distributed along the posterior third of disc; in dorsal view, with a pair of internal processes arising from anteroventral margin, parallel to each other and with rounded apex. Valve ( Fig. 6E View Fig ), in ventral view, narrow, dorsal, and ventral margins subparallel. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 6D–E View Fig ), in ventral view, triangular, narrowing gradually towards apex, inner margin rectilinear, outer margin with a uniseriate row of macrosetae; in lateral view, attaining pygofer posterior third, dorsal margin with multiseriate row of long microsetae. Style ( Fig. 6F View Fig ), in dorsal view, elongate, extending posteriorly much beyond apex of connective, apical portion curved outwards, outer margin bearing microsetae preapically, apex rounded. Connective ( Fig. 6F View Fig ), in dorsal view, U-shaped, arms short, with a short median keel. Aedeagus ( Fig. 6G–H View Fig ), in lateral view, shaft broadened apically, dorsal margin slightly curved ventrally, apex truncated; in dorsal view, apex opened medially as the gonopore exit. Aedeagal atrium well developed, forming a sheath-like structure, with two pairs of acute processes, one basidorsal, elongate with apex acute, trespassing much far as shaft’s apex; second short and acute, located preapically; in ventral view, posterior margin tipped medially, short processes arising laterally, directed inwards; basidorsal processes apical portions convergent.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Pygofer ( Fig. 7B View Fig ), in lateral view moderately produced posteriorly, posterior margin triangular, macrosetae along ventral and posterior margins. Abdominal sternite VII ( Fig. 7B–C View Fig ) wider than long, posterior margin slightly emarginated medially; posterolateral corners slightly rounded. Valvifer I ( Fig. 7D View Fig ), in lateral view, rounded. Valvula I ( Fig. 7D–E View Fig ), in lateral view, blade narrowed apically, base with a lobated projection directed anteriorly, apex acute; dorsal sculptured area strigate, extending from basal portion to apex, ventral sculpted area strigate, restricted to apical portions. Valvula II ( Fig. 7F–H View Fig ), in lateral view, expanded beyond basal curvature, narrowing gradually towards apex, without preapical prominence, apex rounded; dorsal margin with 40 continuous teeth, irregularly shaped after basal curvature, robust and triangular at basal and median portions and small and trapezoid in apical portion, all bearing denticles. Gonoplac ( Fig. 7I–J View Fig ), in lateral view, with basal half narrow, bearing denticuli in ventral margin, apical half expanded; apex rounded and slightly directed dorsally, with apical surface bearing denticuli and few macrosetae in ventroposterior margin.

Remarks

Ruppeliana nigripes can be distinguished from its congeners by its large, robust appearance and unique coloration, characterized by brown forewings with three pairs of conspicuous yellow longitudinal bands.