Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the sharpshooter genus Dasmeusa Melichar, 1926, with a scanning electron microscopy study of D. pauperata (Fabricius, 1803) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini)

Abstract

The genus Dasmeusa is distributed in Northern and Northeastern Brazil and the Guianas. Until the present study, six species were recognized within Dasmeusa. The species of this genus are very similar in terms of color and external morphology, being distinguished mainly by the male terminalia. Here, we review and redescribe Dasmeusa and its species, describe four new species, and present the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus, including 40 morphological characters and 15 terminal taxa. Dasmeusa flavescens Metcalf and Erythrogonia bicolor Metcalf are considered junior synonyms of the type-species, Dasmeusa pauperata (Fabricius). Scanning electron microscopy was employed for a detailed study of the integument of the type-species, including sensilla, surface sculpturing, brochosomes, organ of Evans, and other structures. The phylogenetic analysis with equal weights resulted in nine most parsimonious trees. The implied weighting method resulted in two trees, both with the same ingroup topology as observed in one of the nine equal-weights trees. This preferred topology is as follows: ((D. basseti (D. mendica (D. rafaeli sp. nov., D. falcifera sp. nov.))) (D. isabellina (D. oriximina sp. nov. (D. pauperata (D. imperialis, D. dinizi sp. nov.))))). Dasmeusa was recovered as monophyletic in all trees, being supported by five apomorphic characters.