Noabennarella Holzinger & Kunz, 2006

Viegas, Eduarda Fernanda Gomes & Ale-Rocha, Rosaly, 2025, Completing the fantastic quartet of Bennarellini in Brazil: First record and description of a new species of Noabennarella Holzinger & Kunz, 2006 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae), Zootaxa 5686 (1), pp. 106-120 : 107-112

Noabennarella Holzinger & Kunz, 2006

Noabennarella Holzinger & Kunz, 2006: 53–60 , Figs. 1–5 , 9 –14, 16–26.

Type species: Noabennarella costaricensis Holzinger & Kunz, 2006 (original designation).

Diagnosis. Medium sized cixiid, body length: male 3.2–4.8 mm (6.5–7.5 mm including wings) (N=4). Coloration. General body color light brown with yellow regions ( Fig. 6 A). Median and lateral regions of frons bear two broad black spots, extending from lateral ocellus to epistomal suture ( Figs 6 A–C). Forewing: basal half brown and apical half hyaline ( Fig. 6 F). Pterostigma yellow ( Fig. 6 A). Head: median carina of frons strongly elevated ( Figs 6 C, D); vertex not recognizable ( Fig. 6 D); lateral keels of frons strongly produced ( Figs 6 B, D); median carina of the clypeus present ( Fig. 6 C); scape short, pedicel oblong (about three times longer than scape) ( Fig. 6 C). Thorax: pronotum with anterior margin truncated ( Fig. 6 D), median carina absent, lateral carinae moderately diverging towards tegula and posterior margin with angled indentation ( Fig. 6 D); mesonotum with median and lateral carinae present, weakly marked ( Fig. 6 D). Forewing: m-cu cross-vein absent; icua cross-vein absent ( Fig. 6 F). Other characters as in the original description.

Taxonomic notes. Noabennarella can be easily distinguished from the other genera of Bennarellini by median carina of the frons strongly marked ( Figs 2 A, B), median and lateral region of the frons with two broad black spots ( Figs 6 A–C), and icua crossvein of the forewing absent ( Fig. 6 F). However, Noabennarella species are similar to Bennarella bicoloripennis Muir , by the general color of body and forewing, but can differ from the latter by median carina and lateral keels of frons strongly elevated, median and lateral regions of frons with broad black spots, vertex not recognizable ( Fig. 2 B), posterior margin of the pronotum concave with a shallow median median notch ( Fig. 2 B), and icua cross-vein of the forewing absent.

Remarks. Currently, there is limited information regarding the distribution of Noabennarella , with records of this genus restricted to the Neotropical region, specifically in areas of Central and South America such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Brazil ( Fig. 10). These countries share rich and diverse tropical ecosystems with unique and interconnected characteristics that play vital roles in global biodiversity ( Kohlmann, 2011; Lessmann et al. 2024).

According to label information, representatives of Noabennarella have been found in “terra-firme” areas and primary forests. This suggests a possible association of this genus with environments characteristic of tropical forests, which are notably complex and rich in biodiversity.These forests offer a wide variety of niches and resources, essential for the survival and diversification of many lineages ( Basset et al. 2012). The occurrence of Noabennarella in these ecosystems highlights the importance of tropical forests as refuges for biodiversity, where stable conditions favor the preservation of numerous organisms ( Basset et al. 2012).

Distribution. Brazil (Amazonas), Costa Rica and Ecuador ( Fig. 10).

Figures

FIGURE 1 A–H. Bennarellini species. A–B. Loisirella xanthosa Viegas, Ale-Rocha & Takiya, A. male habitus; B. female abdominal process, right side, lateral view; C–D. Amazobenna reticulata Penny, C. male habitus; D. male abdominal process, left side, lateral view; E–F. Bennarella fusca Muir, E. male habitus; F. male abdominal process, left side, lateral view; G–H. Noabennarella franciscoi sp. nov., G. male habitus; H. male abdominal process, left side, lateral view. Abbreviations: st IV, sternite IV; st V, sternite V.