Research Entomologist USDA-ARS Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Treehoppers (Membracidae, Aetalionidae, and Melizoderidae) are well known for the expanded pronotum present in adults. They are much less known for their immatures, which are often covered with large spinelike structures (scoli) and enlarged setae with stalked or swollen bases (chalazae).
Acutalini ranges from Canada to Peru, and only includes 26 described species. In the present project, three new monobasic genera are being described, all of which have two discoidal cells (R2+3 and M) in the forewing, as in Euritea Stål. Osaria (from Costa Rica) has a pair of stout suprahumeral spines and a strongly convex pronotum in lateral view; Qinquespinosa, (from Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, and Peru) has three spines posteriorly; Tectiforma (from Ecuador) has a tectiform pronotum. A key to all genera is provided.
The nymphs of Acutalis Fairmaire, Bordoniana Sakakibara, and Thrasymedes Kirkaldy are described and illustrated (Bordoniana and Thrasymedes for the first time). All are cryptic and have paired scoli on the meso- and metathoracic nota and abdominal segments III-IX, and a lengthened segment IX. Acutalis has smooth, glabrous sides. Some species of Bordoniana and Thrasymedes have lateral rows of enlarged chalazae, and one Bordoniana species has large scoli ventrolaterally, which is unique within Smiliinae. A key to the known nymphs of acutaline genera is provided. The eggs are apparently not laid in exposed masses and nymphs are solitary and not ant-attended.
The names given here are tentative and not meant to be available in the sense of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
