Review of the enigmatic Neotropical leafhopper genus Brazosa Oman and other potentially related Athysanini genera (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), with descriptions of South American new genera and species

Abstract

Three new Neotropical athysanine (Deltocephalinae) leafhopper genera, Spaltumtettix Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich gen. nov., Pseudonapo Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich gen. nov., and Goiattus Pinedo-Escatel gen. nov., and 4 new species, S. coloradus Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru), P. waorani Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Ecuador), P. huanucensis Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru), and G. reyesi Pinedo-Escatel sp. nov. (Brazil), are described and illustrated. In addition, the genera Zabrosa Oman, Napo Linnavuori DeLong, Pseudalaca Linnavuori and Brazosa Oman are revised and redescribed. Six new species are described in Brazosa: B. campinacu Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. espatula Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. encrustada Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Brazil), B. mildredireanae Pinedo-Escatel sp. nov. (Peru), B. negra Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Peru and Bolivia) and B. beni Pinedo-Escatel Dietrich sp. nov. (Bolivia). Brazosa caesarea Linnavuori Heller comb. nov. is transferred to Spaltumtettix. The South American species Z. aquareza Linnavuori DeLong syn. nov. is proposed as junior synonym of Z. unicampi Menezes. Keys to species of each genus are provided. Unusual aspects of the morphology of these genera are discussed and a comparative table is provided.

Keywords: Hemiptera, Tropics, Auchenorrhyncha, morphology, taxonomy, new species.