Ultrastructure and redescription of Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Ultraestrutura e redescrição de Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

SYSTEMATICS, MORPHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Ultrastructure and redescription of Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Ultraestrutura e redescrição de Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Andressa Paladini^{I, II}; Gervásio S. Carvalho^{I, III}; José R. Valério^IV

^ILab. Entomologia, Depto. Biodiversidade e Ecologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681, Partenon, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS

^IIBolsista do CNPq (Mestrado) do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia; [e-mail]

^IIIProfessor Titular, pesquisador do CNPq; [e-mail]

^IVEmbrapa Gado de Corte, C. postal 154, 79002-970, Campo Grande, MS; [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

The ultrastructure of the spittlebug Notozulia entreriana (Berg) is presented. The study resulted in 32 scanning electron microscope photos, with detailed species description.

Keywords: Auchenorrhyncha, spittlebug, taxonomy, morphology

RESUMO

A morfologia ultra-estrutural da cigarrinha Notozulia entreriana (Berg) é apresentada. Resultaram 32 ilustrações, utilizando-se microscópio eletrônico de varredura, bem como uma detalhada descrição da espécie.

Palavras-chave: Auchenorrhyncha, cigarrinha-das-pastagens, taxonomia, morfologia

Fennah (1953) divided the genus Zulia Fennah, 1949 into two subgenera: Zulia s. str. and Neozulia. Later, Fennah (1968) described the subgenus Notozulia based on Tomaspis entreriana Berg, keeping Monecphora alboornata Lallemand as synonymous.

Carvalho (1995), revising the genera of Neotropical cercopids, elevated Notozulia to the taxonomic status of genus based on the postclypeus pattern, which is angulate in the type subgenus. Besides, examining the genitalia, Carvalho found differences within the patterns, corroborating the change.

Notozulia entreriana (Berg) is one of the most important pasture pests in several Brazilian states. Damaged caused by this insect reduces plant growth, lowering the stocking rates of the pastures. Although nymphal feeding may result in some damage, major damage, however, is caused by the adult spittlebugs. Toxic saliva injected during adult feeding interferes with photosynthetic activity, creating, at first, chlorotic and then, necrotic lesions that spread longitudinally on the leaf (Valério & Nakano 1987, 1992; Valério 1989; Valério et al. 2001).

Material and Methods

The examined material represented by dry specimens as well as by others kept in 70% alcohol were deposited in the Museu de Ciência e Tecnologia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (MCTP).

The specimens were examined under stereomicroscope and measurements were taken using a micrometer attached to the eyepiece. The head, thorax and genitalia were detached, prepared and photographed with a Scanning Electron Microscope at the Centro de Microscopia e Microanálises (CEMM) of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS).

Notozulia entreriana (Berg)

Notozulia entreriana (Berg, 1879: 215) (Tomaspis); Metcalf, 1961: 93-94 (Tomaspis); Fennah, 1968, figs 3A-D; Carvalho, 1995, figs 1-6. Holotype female, Argentina (UNLP - Facultad de Ciencias, Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata - Argentina).

= partenia Melichar, 1915: 13 (Triecphora); Metcalf, 1961: 228 (Monecphora); Carvalho & Webb, 2005: 80 (syn.)

= alboornata Lallemand, 1927: 117 (Monecphora); Metcalf, 1961: 224; Fennah, 1968: 178 (syn.).

Diagnosis. General body coloration black, tegmina black may present whitish marks either as macula or stripes in its extension; thorax black, metathorax reddish, abdomen black, legs black, coxa and apex of the profemur reddish.

Redescription. Body length: male – 7.1 mm; female – 7.7 mm. Head narrower than the pronotum and wider than the length of the vertex, which is convex and carinated, with two superficial impressions longitudinal and external to the ocelli; tylus quadrangular, longer than wide, with median carina weakly marked; ocelli brownish, separated from each other by approximately one ocellus' diameter, they are closer one to the other than the distance to the eyes and posterior margin of the head; eyes (Fig. 1: eye) brownish, globular, conspicuous and transversally disposed; antennae (Fig. 1: ant) dark brown, short and setaceous, with pedicel (Fig. 2: pedc) visible dorsally, cylindrical and longer than the scape; basal body (Fig. 2: bbd) of flagellum sub-cylindrical, projected outward of the pedicel, bearing an arista (Fig. 2: ars) shorter than this basal body, the expanded flagellar base is provided with several coeloconic sensilla (Figs. 2,3) with a conical sensorial process (Figs. 3,4: senp), presenting longitudinal valves in its extension, located in a deep cavity (Figs. 3,4: sencv); supraantennal margin (Fig. 1: spam) overlapping portion of the scape, with an area slightly larger than the tylus width; postclypeus (Fig. 1: pstcl) black, inflated, of convex profile, lateral grooves coarsely marked, carina longitudinal and conspicuous, originating a triangle in the apex with the tylus; anteclypeus (Fig. 1: acl) black, bigger than the last segment of the rostrum, which, in turn, is smaller than the anterior one; rostrum black, with second segment reddish, reaching the apex of the mesocoxae; labrum (Fig. 1: labr) small and triangular, shorter than the anteclypeus, in which it articulates, covering part of the basal portion of the rostrum; mandibular plate (Fig. 1: mdpl) elongate, maxillary plate (Fig. 1: mxpl) long and narrow, located behind of the mandibular plate; two mandibular and maxillary stylets (Fig. 1: sty; Fig. 5; Fig. 6): maxillary stylets long, smooth, generally closely united throughout their length, distal portion acute as a knife (Fig. 8); mandibular stylets long, serrated in their distal portion as well as in their inner face, grooved longitudinal and internally (Fig. 7). Pronotum hexagonal wider than long, coarsely punctuated, covered by a thin layer of setae, median carina weakly marked; anterior margin straight, anterolateral margins straight, postlateral margins sinuous slightly concave, posterior margin notched, grooved medially; humeral angles acute; scutellum black, with median concavity and transversal rugosities. Tegmina wide (Fig. 9), delicately punctuated, general color black with a whitish macula between the anterior and the median third, close to the costal margin, and a whitish transversal stripe at the beginning of the posterior third, being either continuous or fragmented, M and Cu1 united by a transversal branch, apical section poorly reticulated, veins visible, A1 present and distinct, A2 absent. Wings (Fig. 11) hyaline, with brownish venation, Cu1 with base portion thickened; external margin may present from two to four hamuli (Fig. 13: ham), varying among specimens. The axillary sclerites (Figs. 10,12) are scattered in the membranous basal area of tegmina and wing, located between the base of the veins and the thorax: collectively referred as pteralia, allowing flexion of the wing. The pro and mesothoracic legs are about the same size, being both ambulatorial; the hind legs (Fig. 14) are longer and fitted for jumping; tarsi with three tarsomeres (Fig. 14: tar, ba, ma, da); hind femur on inner face with conspicuous spine (Fig. 14: fem), tibia elongate, with two lateral spines, being the basal one of the same size as the apical ones, found in number of 10-12, distributed in two rows (Fig. 14: tib; Fig. 15:); basitarsus with 15 apical spines in one row, covered by a dense layer of setae (Fig. 14: ba; Fig. 15: ba); subungueal process present (Fig. 16: supr), arolium located between the pair of claws (Fig. 16: arl, cla); unguitractor constituted of a small median basal plate (Fig. 16: ungt).

Male genitalia. Pygofer (Fig. 17), which encloses the genital parts, with two digit-like processes (Fig. 17: lapr) between the anal tube and the subgenital plate (Fig. 17: sgpl), this plate-like sternite that underlies the genitalia is subrectangular bearing an elongate and rounded apical process, dorsal margin with a row of small teeth, extended through the inner face (Figs. 18, 19); parameres subrectangular, slender, dorsal elevation inconspicuous, subapical tooth, small and curved, turned outward, dorsal margin with a sparse group of setae (Figs. 20, 21); aedeagus joined at the base of parameres (Figs. 22-24: aedg), held by the subcylindrical phallobase, with dorsal face provided of minute triangular teeth (Fig. 22: fbs, slmt); apex hardened and triangular (Fig. 22: ap; Fig. ²³).

Female. Bigger in size, tegmina with two whitish longitudinal stripes, one extending from the humeral angle until almost half of the median third, the other, along and over the clavus, extending from the anal angle until the end of the median third, and a whitish transversal stripe at the posterior third. First valve of ovipositor long, with acute apex (Fig. 25), basal process inconspicuous (Fig. 26); second valve long, with acute apex (Figs. 27, 28), dorsal margin smooth, external face with a set of sensilla (Fig. 30), internal face with laminar ornamentations (Fig. 31); third valve short and wide, provided of bristles in the ventral margin, and ornamentations in its inner face (Figs. 29, 32).

Comments. This species presents a great variation in its alar patterns, and sexual dimorphism: females have the tegmina ornate with two longitudinal stripes, whereas on males they are reduced or even absent, as well as the transversal stripe found on posterior third of tegmina may be reduced on some specimens.

Material examined. BRAZIL: Rio Grande do Sul: Santa Rosa, 03.XI.2001, D.N. Gassen leg. (ex Cynodon dactylon cv. Tifton) 52♂ and 22♀ (MCTP).

Received 13/IX/07. Accepted 10/IX/08.

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• Valério, J.R. & O. Nakano. 1992. Sintomatologia dos danos causados pelo adulto da cigarrinha Zulia entreriana (Berg, 1879) (Homóptera, Cercopidae) em Brachiaria decumbens STAPF. An. Soc. Entomol. Bras. 21: 95-100.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Nov 2008
• Date of issue
  Oct 2008

History

• Accepted
  10 Sept 2008
• Received
  13 Sept 2007