A new species of the leafhopper genus Ladoffa (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) from rainforests of eastern Mexico

Abstract: While sorting the section of unidentified Auchenorrhyncha in the National Collection of Insects at the Institute of Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, an undes- cribed species of the genus Ladoffa Young, 1977 was found. Here it is described as Ladoffa tsibi Chávez-Gutiérrez & Pinedo-Escatel, sp. nov., and illustrated based on dry-mounted specimens. Most of the specimens were collected in the early 1960s to late 1980s in remnants of the highly threatened evergreen rainforest in eastern Mexico, including the Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biology Station and the vicinity of the core areas of the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve. A distributional map for the new species and a key to all species of Ladoffa occurring in Mexico are given. The new state records are reported for L. cavillator Young, 1977 (Quintana Roo), L. dependens Young, 1977 (Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz) and L. purpurascens (Fowler, 1900) (Chiapas and Veracruz). In addition, L. sannionis Young, 1977 is recorded for the first time in Costa Rica. The use of the forewing color pattern for identification and historical records of Ladoffa in Mexico are discussed.

Key words: Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellinae, Cicadellini, sharpshooter, new species, taxonomy, Gulf of Mexico, Neotropical Region