Scaphytopius lafovensis Arias-Paco & Godoy, 2025

Scaphytopius lafovensis Arias-Paco & Godoy View in CoL , sp. nov.

( Figs. 4G–L View FIGURE 4 , 9H View FIGURE 9 , 10H View FIGURE 10 , 11L View FIGURE 11 , 12L View FIGURE 12 , 13L View FIGURE 13 )

Description. Length of male 3.75–4.43 mm, female 3.84–4.49 mm. General appearance light brown, in dorsal view with only four small white spots. Crown 1.8 x longer than basal width between eyes, light brown, with two pale white longitudinal bands in center, separated by dark brown line extending two-thirds of crown length; two white bands then merge into single band at apex ( Fig. 4G View FIGURE 4 ). Face orange-brown; apex of frontoclypeus with two pale white transverse bands in shape of inverted V ( Fig. 4I View FIGURE 4 ). Forewings light brown, without dark spots or irregular patches; discal cell without spot; clavus with 2 white spots, with around 5–6 round white spots at apex ( Fig. 4H View FIGURE 4 ), 9 veinlets; veins light brown. Legs light brown.

Male genitalia. Pygofer in lateral view triangular, apex rounded; multiple macrosetae at apex ( Fig. 9H View FIGURE 9 ). Subgenital plate triangular, wider at base than apex, much longer than wide, with thin setae along outer margin ( Fig. 10H View FIGURE 10 ). Connective W-shaped. Style in ventral view with apophysis short, thin, and pointed at apex; space between preapical lobe and apophysis C-shaped and narrow. Paraphyses long and slender in ventral view; fused at base for about 1/4 of their length, then slightly separated, remaining parallel up to half their length, where they begin to diverge, ultimately converging again at apex ( Fig. 4J View FIGURE 4 ); apex with internal spine in shape of triangular claw. Aedeagus in lateral view very short, L-shaped; preatrium absent; dorsal apodeme longer than shaft, with curvature toward apex ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ); shaft in apical view straight and tubular, gonopore area with two small lateral spines and third, larger dorsal spine ( Fig. 4L View FIGURE 4 ). Gonopore subapical, at base of dorsal spine.

Female. External appearance similar to male. Sternite VII wider than long, longer than sternite VI. Posterior margin narrowing toward apex; with three slight notches in middle ( Fig. 14Q View FIGURE 14 ). Pygofer with multiple macrosetae at apex; first valvulae in lateral view curved, with pointed apex; second valvulae in lateral view dorsally curved, with denticles extending approximately from last quarter of its length to apex. Before beginning of denticles the valvulae is misaligned, slightly V-shaped ( Fig. 14R View FIGURE 14 ); valvulae united at midlength, in lateral view with more sclerotized area that is perceived as slight spot in center, slightly wider than long.

Diagnosis. Wings light brown, discal cell without irregular patches, dark spots, or circular white spots ( Fig. 4H View FIGURE 4 ). Paraphyses long and slender, fused at base for about 1/4 of their length, then slightly separated, remaining parallel up to half their length, where they begin to diverge and ultimately converge again at apex ( Fig. 4J View FIGURE 4 ). Aedeagus in lateral view short, L-shaped; dorsal apodeme longer than shaft, with pronounced curvature toward apex ( Fig. 4K View FIGURE 4 ).

Distribution. Costa Rica.

Biology. The full biology of this species, including life cycle, courtship, oviposition patterns, and feeding, is being studied at the Laboratory of Obligate Phytopathogens and their Vectors at the University of Costa Rica.

Etymology. Dedicated to Laboratorio de Fitopatógenos Obligados y sus Vectores at the University of Costa Rica ( LaFOV), as the biology and phytoplasma vector capacity of this species are being studied in depth.

Material examined. Holotype. ♂. Costa Rica, San José, San Pedro, Campus UCR Finca 2, 1 227 m. 9°56′24.23′′N 84° 2′38.17′′W. V. 2022. col: A. Arias-Paco, L. Garita & S. Carvajal, MUCR 0001064 ( MIUCR) GoogleMaps . Paratype. 8 ♂. same data except MUCR 0001065/MUCR 0001067/MUCR 0001068/MUCR 0001070/MUCR 0001071/MUCR 0001072/ MUCR 0001073/MUCR 0001101 ( MIUCR) GoogleMaps . 10 ♀. same data except MUCR 0001102 to MUCR 0001111 ( MIUCR) GoogleMaps . 2 ♂. same data that holotype ( USNM) GoogleMaps . 2 ♂. same data that holotype ( BMNH) GoogleMaps . 2 ♂. same data that holotype ( LACM) GoogleMaps . 2 ♂. same data that holotype ( MZUCR) GoogleMaps . 1 ♂. Costa Rica, Heredia, Estación Biológica La Selva , 17.VIII.1992. col: Nielson & Godoy, INBIO CRI001 148488 ( MNCR) . 1 ♂. Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Río Naranjo , 20.VIII.1992, col: Nielson & Lezama, INBIO CRI001 148517 ( MNCR) . 1 ♂. Costa Rica, San José UCR Campus , 26.VIII.1992, col: M.W. Nielson, INBIO CRI001 148370 ( MNCR) . 1 ♂. Costa Rica, Heredia, Estación Biológica La Selva. 50– 150 m . 10º26′N 84º 01′W. VII.1993. col: INBio-OET, INBIO CRI001 252886 ( MNCR) GoogleMaps . 4 ♀. Costa Rica, Heredia, Estación Biológica La Selva. 50– 150 m . 10º26′N 84º 01′W. VII.1993. col: C. Godoy, INBIO CRI001 272325/ INBIO CRI001 252885/INB0004294780/INB0004294781 ( MNCR) GoogleMaps .