Unraveling the white-clothed Diestostemma Amyot & Serville: a taxonomic revision of the American sharpshooters of the D. bituberculatum complex (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Author Pinto, Ângelo Parise Author Mejdalani, Gabriel Author Takiya, Daniela Maeda text Zootaxa 2017 4281 1 135 164 journal article 28697 10.11646/zootaxa.4281.1.14 da5b3047-b669-4276-89ef-69ecf31d33ff 1175-5326 816007 DE0BD9D9-B661-43DF-90BA-4F31C4B3ADC9 Key to species of the D. bituberculatum complex Keys to species of Proconiini available in Young (1968) are almost exclusively based on the male terminalia. However, during our studies on this genus we observed consistent external morphology and female characters for suitable specific identification that are adopted here. The key should be used in association with illustrations and checked with the diagnoses, in addition to careful examination of the terminalia, to confirm identifications. Males of D. rubriventris are unknown. 1. Dorsolateral portion of pronotum usually not or only slightly projected dorsally (except D. reticulatum , D. atropuctulatum , and D. nervosum group, as Figs. 11–12 ); forewing white to brownish; distinct sclerotized dark vein areas (SDV) strongly variable from few longitudinal basal lines, four to five small rounded spots, large reticulate markings to virtually all veins and cells........................................................................ Other species groups of Diestostemma 1’. Dorsolateral portion of pronotum strongly projected dorsally into two hump-shaped tubercles ( Figs. 1–10 ); forewing white with only two to three dark brown to black SDV areas at proximal 0.33, distal one large H- or T-shaped or rounded marking ( Figs. 46–55 ).................................................................. 2 D. bituberculatum complex 2 (1’). Forewing with distal SDV as a large rounded spot ( Figs. 54–55 ); posterior margin of female sternite VII bilobed, mesally not distinctly projected, almost truncate ( Fig. 92 ). Peru ( Madre de Dios ) and Brazil ( Mato Grosso ) ( Fig. 93 )..... D. rubriventris 2’. Forewing with distal SDV usually as a H- or T-shaped marking, sometimes incomplete resulting in two spots ( Figs. 46–53 ); posterior margin of female sternite VII bi- or trilobed, usually with a distinct mesal lobe slightly to strongly projected ( Figs. 87–91 ).............................................................................................. 3 3 (2’). Males............................................................................................... 4 3’. Females............................................................................................. 8 4 (3). Basiventral process of aedeagus abruptly curved anteriorly at distal 0.3–0.4 forming approximate right angle (= 90º) in lateral view ( Fig. 75 ). Guyana , French Guiana , and Brazil ( Amazonas ) ( Fig. 93 )........................... D. bituberculatum 4’. Basiventral process of aedeagus gently curved anteriorly or dorsally forming obtuse angle (>100o) in lateral view ( Figs. 72, 78 , 81, 84 ).............................................................................................. 5 5 (4’). Basiventral process of aedeagus with rami robust, slightly curved anteriorly ( Fig. 72 ), laterally expanded into pair of laterally flattened rami in lateral view ( Figs. 72–74 ); venter of abdomen noticeably realgar colored ( Fig. 37 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 )............................................................................................ D. albinoi sp. nov. 5’. Basiventral process of aedeagus with rami slender, noticeably curved anteriorly ( Figs. 78 , 81, 84 ) and laterally slightly expanded into biconical or narrower flattened rami in lateral view ( Figs. 78–86 ); venter of abdomen yellowish-white to brownish-yellow ( Figs. 41, 43 )................................................................................ 6 6 (5’). Basiventral process of aedeagus with proximal portion projected into an acute process ( Figs. 78–80 ), rami laterally expanded distally (biconical) in posterior view ( Figs. 79–80 ). Brazil ( Rondônia and Mato Grosso ) ( Fig. 93 )..... D. cavichiolii sp. nov. 6’. Basiventral process of aedeagus without proximal acute process ( Figs. 81–86 ), rami slender and flattened in posterior view ( Figs. 82–83, 85–86 )................................................................................... 7 7 (6’). Basiventral process of aedeagus bifurcated near base of shaft ( Figs. 81–82 ), rami with lateral concavities distributed along distal 0.5 ( Fig. 81 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 )........................................................ D. gervasioi sp. nov. 7’. Basiventral process of aedeagus bifurcated at about midlength of shaft ( Figs. 84–85 ), each ramus with large dorsal concavity at distal 0.25 ( Fig. 84 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 )........................................................ D. olivia sp. nov. 8 (3’). Venter of abdomen distinctly realgar colored ( Figs. 38, 40 ); posterior margin of sternite VII with mesal lobe extending distally beyond lateral lobes ( Figs. 87–88 )........................................................................ 9 8’. Venter of abdomen yellowish-white to brownish-yellow ( Figs. 42, 44 ); posterior margin of sternite VII with mesal lobe not extending distally as far as lateral lobes ( Figs. 89–91 )........................................................ 10 9 (8). Sternite VII with mesal lobe wider, maximum width at base ±0.33 of sternite width, lateral lobes extending distally to about 0.5 mesal lobe length ( Fig. 87 ); pronotal disc golden yellowish-brown with dark markings over mesal callosities and dorsolateral carina ( Figs. 2 , 25–26 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 ).................................................... D. albinoi sp. nov. 9’. Sternite VII with mesal lobe slender, maximum width at base Ĺ0.25 of sternite width, lateral lobes extending distally to about 0.33 mesal lobe length ( Fig. 88 ); pronotal disc pale yellow, lacking dark areas ( Figs. 4 , 27–28 ). Guyana , French Guiana , and Brazil ( Amazonas ) ( Fig. 93 )............................................................... D. bituberculatum 10 (8’). Sternite VII with posterior margin strongly trilobed, mesal lobe strongly projected in ventral view ( Fig. 91 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 )...................................................................................... D. olivia sp. nov. 10’. Sternite VII with posterior margin almost bilobed, with mesal lobe slightly projected in ventral view ( Figs. 89–90 )....... 11 11 (10’). Forewing with two SDV areas ( Figs. 29–30 ); lateral lobes of sternite VII distinctly carinated, tips slightly divergent ( Fig. 89 ). Brazil ( Rondônia and Mato Grosso ) ( Fig. 93 ).............................................. D. cavichiolii sp. nov. 11’. Forewing with three SDV areas ( Figs. 31–32 , 53 ); lateral lobes of sternite VII not carinated, tips parallel ( Fig. 90 ). Ecuador ( Fig. 93 )............................................................................. D. gervasioi sp. nov.