copied from: http://www.redpav-fpolar.info.ve/entomol/v05/0501b001.html (January 10, 2007)
Cocconotus cerdai, new species
As noted previously this species is closest to C. insularis (Bruner), from which it differs in lacking infuscation on the frons (which is emerald-green in life), in having, generally, a more rounded dark patch on the dorsal surface of the head, and fewer ventral spines on the remora, as well as in the male abdominal terminalia. In the present species the subterminal spine of the male cercus is quite short and the subgenital plate longer, narrower and somewhat upwardly curved (Fig. 5D).
In Beier's (1960) key to species, C. cerdai would come close to the only other recorded Venezuelan species, C. Iaevifrons (Brunner von Wattenwyl), except that the femoral and tibial spines are pale (with only tips dark), not black. That species also differs as follows: tegmina and hind wings shorter; ventral femoral spines more numerous (anterior, 4; middle, 3-4; posterior, 5-6), though the number is variable (even for a single specimen) in both species; hind tibiae with less numerous dorsal spines; last abdominal tergum of male with a dorsal, bow-shaped depression (this may be an artifact); supraanal plate in both sexes posteriorly excavated (not simply triangular); male cerci without a marked subterminal spine (though a terminal one is present); male subgenital plate less deeply notched. In coloration, C. laevifrons differs in having the frons mostly black, except for a pair of pale, vertical stripes below the eyes, mandibles more extensiplate less deeply notched. In coloration, C. Iaevifrons differs in having the frons mostly black except for a pair of pale, vertical stripes below the eyes, mandibles more extensively (lack, pronotum scarcely darkened in the middle (probably a variable character), more distinctly darkened anterior tibiae, somewhat infuscated middle tibiae, and ovipositor blackish dorsally at base.
Holotype, male (Fig. 4A, 5A): VENEZUELA E(sta)do Cojedes, 14 km N. Baúl, Rte. 8, in saw-edged Agave, 13.V11.1981, D.K. McE Kevan, F.N. (=stop no.) 9. Lyman Entomological Museum Expedition to Venezuela, July, 1981. In Lyman Entomological Museum, McGill University, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada.
Head: (Fig. 5A) typical for genus; anterior view more or less parallel-sided; eyes rather strongly protruding beyond genae; median ocellus of moderate size; antennal scape with slight swelling mediodorsally at about two-thirds of its length and with short, blunt, terminal process; antennal scrobes projecting for more than one-third of length of scape and considerably beyond apex of fastigium of vertex; space between their apices about as wide as length of a scrobe; maxillary palpus with terminal segment more than twice as long as penultimate segment; fastigium of vertex narrowly triangular, slightly grooved apically, basal tubercles distinct; genae, frons and clypeus smooth, virtually unpunctured, lateral frontal and genal carinae obsolescent dorsally.
Thorax: pronotum rather strongly granulate, slightly sellate, about as long as broad, anterior margin of disk slightly convex, posterior margin almost straight except laterally, metazona rather flat, not carinate laterally, transverse sulci of disk strong, anterior one crossing disk just before one-third of its length, posterior one a little beyond middle, descending obliquely forward across lateral lobe to reach its inferior margin just before middle, latter more or less straight, ascending distad; prosternal spines rather long; lateral lobes of meso-and metasterna moderately acute and directed slightly mesally, sternal grooves shallow.
Wings: Tegmina and hind wings at rest extending well beyond hind knees and apex of abdomen, of approximately similar length, anterior and postradial fields of tegmina more or less similarly reticulate, left stridulatory area relatively small with 3 strong proximal cross-veins.
Legs: anterior and middle femora with 2, posterior femur with 4 (left) or 5 (right) ventral spines; anterior femur with inner genicular lobe spired; anterior and middle tibiae smooth dorsally, with 5 or 6 ventral spines on each side; posterior femur with outer, and inner genicular lobes unarmed; posterior tibia dorsally with 7 outer and 10 inner, ventrally with 8 outer and 7 inner, rather irregularly distributed spines.
Abdomen: last abdominal tergum convex dorsally, almost transverse distally; supraanal plate flat, triangular, without a median longitudinal groove or depression; cerci robust, slightly surpassing supra-anal plate, inwardly curved, with strong but short apical and inner subapical spines; subgenital plate moderately elongate, curved upward in lateral view (cf. Fig. 5D), in ventral view more than twice as long as basal width, distinctly widened at base and with sides subparall for distal two-thirds, strongly carinate laterally, apex with a deep, V-shaped notch, styli long, about quarter of length of subgenital plate proper (cf. Fig. 5D), more or less straight and somewhat convergent in dorsal view, slightly curved upwards in lateral view.
Coloration: general appearance testaceous; eyes, fastigium to immediately above median ocellus, anterior faces of each antennal scape and pedicel, a spot on each scrobe between antennal insertions, labrum except marginally, distal and mesal parts of mandibles, middle of extreme anterior and posterior margins of pronotal disk, apices of femoral and tibial spines and spurs, extreme bases of penultimate tarsal segments, tarsal claws, and spines of cerci all blackish; a large semi-lunar maculation on vertex and occiput, a narrow, mediodorsal, longitudinal stripe and the extreme anterior margins of the lateral pronotal lobes all dark sepia-brown; anterior tibiae, except for tympanal regions, and hind wings infuscated; frons and upper parts of clypeus bright emeraldgreen in life (faded to testaceous on preservation); abdomen dorsally brown, speckled testaceous.
Measurements: body (without subgenital plate and styli) 31, pronotum 5.4, tegmen 32 x 6.0, stridulatory field 3.4 x 2.5, speculum 2.2, anterior femur 8.3, middle femur 9.0, posterior femur 19.5, subgenital plate (median, without styli) 5.2, styli 2.1 mm.
Allotype female (Fig. 4 B-C, 5 C-E): Same data and depository as holotype.
Agrees in general with holotype (except for lack of stridulatory mechanism and in abdominal terminalia), but pronotal disk has rather wider and more diffuse median dorsal stripe and extreme posterior margin almost entirely blackish: also right anterior femur has 3 (instead of 2) and posterior femora 3 (left) or 6 (right) ventral spines. Cerci simple, elongate-conical slightly inwardly curved, without apical and subapical darktipped spines: subgenital plate elongate-triangular, rounded apically and with a rather deep, narrow notch; ovipositor (Fig. 5E) strong, upwardly curved, about three-quarters as long as posterior femur, valves broadly margined dorsally and ventrally with reddishbrown, extreme margins very finely serrated distally.
Measurements: body 35 (with ovipositor 45.5), pronotum 5.4, tegmen 34.5 x 6.1, anterior femur 8.9, middle femur 9.1, posterior femur 20.5, ovipositor 16 mm.
