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| Haplaxius cotinga Bahder & Bartlett, in Echavarria, Barrantes, Bartlett, Helmick, Kunz & Bahder, 2022 |
Abstract
Haplaxius is a large genus of New World cixiid planthoppers. The genus is of particular interest because Haplaxius crudus can transmit palm infecting phytoplasmas and the recent discovery of additional Haplaxius on palms during survey work highlights the need to fully understand the diversity of this genus on palms. Herein, a new species, Haplaxius cotinga sp. n., is described from the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. This species is most similar to H. deleter from southern Panama, from which it differs mostly by features of the male terminalia. Molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 18S rRNA, and histone 3 (H3) gene is provided and demonstrates supplemental support for placing the novel taxon in Haplaxius.
Keywords: Hemiptera, new species, taxonomy, phylogenetics, planthopper
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| Live adult female of Haplaxius cotinga sp. n. |
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| Adult male habitus of Haplaxius cotinga sp. n.; (A) dorsal view, and (B) lateral view, scale = 1 mm. |
Haplaxius cotinga Bahder & Bartlett sp. n.
Diagnosis. A pale species (light green in life, yellowish when preserved, with whitish unmarked face and large reddish marking on abdominal terga. Male terminalia bearing gonostyli with sclerotized subapical dorsal ridge. Phallobase complex, bearing large, sinuous ventral projection with hooked apex and a large, elongate dorsal process. Anal segment in lateral view stout and of moderate length, ventral margin with large median process at midlength, apex elongate, strongly curved ventrad.
Etymology. The specific name given is in reference to La Cotinga Biological Station where the specimens were collected.
Distribution. Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Osa Peninsula.
Marco A. Zumbado Echavarria, Edwin A. Barrantes Barrantes, Charles R. Bartlett, Ericka E. Helmick, Gernot Kunz and Brian W. Bahder. 2022. A New Species of Planthopper in the Genus Haplaxius from Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae). Zootaxa. 5209(2); 257-269. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.2.6
