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| Valenciolenda fadaforesta Hoch & Sendra, in Hoch, Sendra, Montagud, Teruel et Ferreira, 2021. |
Abstract
A new obligately cavernicolous species in the planthopper family Kinnaridae is described from Spain. This is the first record of a cavernicolous kinnarid from the Old World, and the first record of a troglobitic fulgoromorphan hemipteran from mainland Spain, and also the 7th cavernicolous kinnarid species worldwide. Epigean Kinnaridae are not known from the present-day fauna of the Iberian Peninsula nor from Western Europe at large. The new species is regarded as a relict from an ancient fauna which is now extinct. The new cavernicolous species could not be assigned to any of the existing genera, thus a new genus is established. Molecular data (COI barcode sequence) for the new species are presented. For the first time, a detailed description of the nymphal morphology of a kinnarid is provided. Information on its ecology, behaviour, distribution and conservation status is given, and biogeographic implications are discussed.
Keywords: Caves, conservation, Iberian Peninsula, morphology, taxonomy, troglobite, troglomorphy
Kinnaridae Muir, 1925: 158
Prosotropinae Fennah, 1945: 449
Adolendini Emeljanov, 1984: 470 (51)
Valenciolenda Hoch & Sendra, gen. nov.
Type species: Valenciolenda fadaforesta sp. nov.
(type locality: Spain, València, Murciélagos cave).
Diagnosis: Small kinnarid (ca. 3–4 mm body length), strongly troglomorphic: compound eyes and ocelli absent, tegmina reduced in length but surpassing lateral body margins, wings vestigial, body whitish, pigmentation largely reduced (Fig. 1a). Valenciolenda gen. nov. can be distinguished from all other genera of the Kinnaridae by the unique combination of the following characters: narrow and short vertex; short and wide tegmina, in life held nearly horizontally over the body and, in dorsal view, forming a near circle; male genitalia with genital segment in caudal aspect longish ovate, not constricted; anal segment short, ventrocaudally with two arm-like processes, genital styles slender at base, apically strongly enlarged, medially concave; aedeagus tubular stout, distally widening, ventrocaudal margin with a short, acute tip.
Etymology: The genus name is a combination of Valencia, the capital city of the Valencian Community, an autonomous region of Spain in the east of the Iberian Peninsula where the type locality is located, and the tribe of Kinnaridae, Adolendini, to which the type species is assigned. The gender is feminine.
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| Valenciolenda fadaforesta sp. nov., habitus, dorsal view a adult male, dorsal view b nymph (IV. instar) from ‘Murciélagos’ cave (Vilamarxant, València) (photos by: Sergio Montagud Alario) c morphological analogy in the troglobitic Solonaima baylissa Hoch & Howarth, 1989 (Cixiidae) from Australia: habitus, adult male, dorsal view. Body length 4.5 mm (photo by H. Reimer, Marburg, used with permission). |
Valenciolenda fadaforesta Hoch & Sendra, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Habitus (Fig. 1a). Strongly troglomorphic species, predominantly whitish colouration, compound eyes and ocelli absent, body dorsoventrally compressed, tegmina short and wide, in repose very shallowly tectiform, almost flat, caudally reaching or slightly surpassing tip of abdomen, laterally surpassing external body margin with about half of their width, together creating a nearly circular shape; with a light blue wax fringe – which in life is quite eye-catching – accompanying costal vein; hind wings vestigial.
Etymology: The species name is a combination of the Valencian word for „fairy“ (fada) and forest, thus meaning „fairy of the forest“. The gender is feminine.
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| Root habitat in `Raices´cave (Millares, València) a overview main room b roots along cracks in the cave ceiling c roots dangling from the ceiling d Valenciolenda fadaforesta sp. nov., adult, on cave floor in `Murciélagos´cave (photos a–c by Teresa Molina Jiménez and Ricardo Giménez Mezquita, used with permission of UEE Fotogrup; photo d by Sergio Montagud Alario). |
Hannelore Hoch, Alberto Sendra, Sergio Montagud, Santiago Teruel and Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira. 2021. First Record of A cavernicolous Kinnaridae from the Old World (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoromorpha, Kinnaridae, Adolendini) provides testimony of an Ancient Fauna. Subterranean Biology. 37: 1-26. DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.37.60483
