Phylogenetic analysis and revision of the leafhopper genus Acuera DeLong & Freytag (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Gyponini) based on morphological data

Abstract

Based on a phylogenetic analysis using implied weighting for 59 taxa and 155 morphological characters, we provided a taxonomic revision for Acuera. The genus was recovered as polyphyletic; herein we described three new genera and 16 new species, and proposed 23 new combinations, a new status and four new synonyms for Gyponini. Coarctana gen. nov. is described to include 15 species: C. rana (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov. (type species) transferred from Acuera; five species transferred from Curtara, C. apena (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., C. pedica (DeLong) comb. nov., C. punctata (Spångberg) comb. nov., C. secara (DeLong & Triplehorn) comb. nov., and C. serpenta (DeLong) comb. nov.; and nine new species, C. asymmetrica sp. nov., C. glabra sp. nov., C. nigromedia sp. nov., C. occultata sp. nov., C. oricula sp. nov., C. parvula sp. nov., C. striata sp. nov., C. taurina sp. nov., and C. vilavelha sp. nov. Effossana gen. nov. includes eight species: two species transferred from Acuera, E. gloma (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov. (type species) and E. fructa (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov.; two species transferred from Curtara, E. gatuna (DeLong & Wolda) comb. nov. and E. scapa (DeLong) comb. nov.; and four new species, E. assimulata sp. nov., E. circumnota sp. nov., E. intrinseca sp. nov., and E. tenuemarginata sp. nov. A new monotypic genus, Propincurtara gen. nov., is described to include P. longilinea sp. nov. The subgenus Parcana is raised to genus rank, comprising nine species: P. atitlana (Fowler) comb. nov., P. concilia (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., P. extara (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., P. mimica (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., P. spreta (Fowler) comb. nov., and P. ultima (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov. (type species); also three species transferred from Curtara, P. albororata (Fowler) comb. nov., P. animosa (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., and P. ventusa (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov. Curtara lineatana DeLong & Freytag is a junior synonym of P. concilia (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., Acuera inlustra DeLong & Freytag is a junior synonym of Hamana manifesta DeLong, and A. culmena DeLong & Freytag and A. prodiga DeLong & Freytag are synonyms of A. menaca DeLong & Freytag. Four species of Acuera are transferred to Curtara: C. facera (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., C. labella (Osborn) comb. nov., C. nama (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov., and C. patula (DeLong & Freytag) comb. nov. Two new species, A. extenuata sp. nov. and A. umbra sp. nov. are described and placed in the subgenus Acuera. We provide descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa, redescription of the type species of the genera Acuera, Coarctana gen. nov., Effossana gen. nov., and Parcana stat. nov., 40 new country and Brazilian states records, and key to males of each genus.