The Spittlebug Mahanarva tristis as a Senior Synonymy of Four Neotropical Species of Mahanarva (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopidae), and Considerations About M. tristis Subspecies.

ABSTRACT

Mahanarva Distant, the neotropical spittlebug genus contains 48 species and many of them are only known from their original descriptions and one location. A group of species of this genus stand out due to their similarities and are studied here. Based on comparisons between 28 Mahanarva tristis (Fabricius) specimens and the original drawings of the other species, we demonstrate strong morphological similarities. Examinations of the tegmina showed a polymorphism with different dot and stripe patterns. Those patterns are not exclusive for one species and are found throughout the taxa. Again, studying the male genitals no species-specific characters can be found. Furthermore, differences of the parameres were explained by different angle positions of these genital plates which alter the resulting photos and drawings significantly. On the other hand, changes of the aedeagus can be explained due to its fragile structure and the resulting manipulations during handling. In addition, the overlapping known distribution of the taxa leads to the conclusion that the four species are in fact synonyms of M. tristis and that there is no evidence for the validity of the subspecies. We conclude that the New World spittlebug M. tristis is considered a senior synonym of Mahanarva fraseri (Distant) n. syn., Mahanarva mura (China & Myers) n. syn., Mahanarva raripila (Jacobi) n. syn., and Mahanarva trifissa (Jacobi) n. syn. Aside from that, there was no evidence for the validity of the M. tristis subspecies Mahanarva tristis guppyi (Urich) n. syn., Mahanarva tristis monagasi (Fennah) n. syn., Mahanarva tristis quadrimaculata (Fennah) n. syn., Mahanarva tristis suffusa (Walker) n. syn., and Mahanarva tristis walkeri (Lallemand) n. syn. Unfortunately, it was not possible to conclude the taxonomic state of Mahanarva tristis stalii (Lallemand) because there are no known specimens or types available. So, the subspecies is considered a species inquirenda.