More than 80 years without new taxa: analysis of morphological variation among members of Mexican Aeneolamia Fennah (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) support a new species in the genus.

Abstract

The genus Aeneolamia includes eight described species and 32 subspecies widely distributed in America. In Mexico, two species (A.contigua and A.albofasciata) and one subspecies (A.contiguacampecheana) are recognized. In a recent study of Cercopidae in Mexico, a new species of Aeneolamia was noted from Oaxaca, Mexico based on body color and the ornamentation patterns of tegmen, without a formal taxonomic description. To test the hypothesis of an extant new taxon within the genus a comprehensive analysis of intraspecific morphological variation from 46 morphological features was performed, four related to tegmen color patterns in both sexes, six to male genitalia, and 36 continuous characters measured in specimens of both sexes of Mexican Aeneolamia from several geographical localities using traditional univariate, multivariate morphometric, and geometric morphometric methods. This is the first time that this approach has been used in Cercopidae. Aeneolamiadanpecki Castro, Armendáriz & Utrera, sp. nov. from Oaxaca showed pronounced morphological differences in tegmen coloration patterns, the shape of different elements of the male genitalia, and body measurements compared to the other Mexican members of Aeneolamia; therefore, it is described as a new species.