Comparative morphology of female genitalia of the sharpshooter genus Syncharina (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), with notes on the generic group Cicadella

The sharpshooter genus Syncharina Young, 1977 includes four known species distributed in South America. Traditionally, the taxonomy of cicadellines is based mainly on male characters; however, several studies have demonstrated the existence of diagnostic features in the female genitalia. In this contribution, the female genitalia of the genus Syncharina are studied in order to add new female characters for species identification. Also, new female characters of the supposedly related genera Helochara Fitch, and Helocharina Melichar, are discovered, and their relationship with Syncharina is discussed. Additional comparative notes on Syncharina and other related genera included in the generic group Cicadella Latreille are provided. A diagnosis of the genus Syncharina, including new characters from the female genitalia, and a key to the four species included, are presented. Notes on the geographic distribution of Syncharina are provided along with new country and province records for Syncharina and Helocharina. Syncharina species can be distinguished by consistent female characters, including traits of sternite VII, the pygofer, the basal area of the first valvula and the gonoplacs. Based on ovipositor morphology, the genus Syncharina can be more clearly distinguished from Helocharina and Helochara. Little variation was seen in the ovipositors among the species in Cicadella, exposing the conservative nature of the first and the second valvulae in this group. The female genitalia provide useful characters for the taxonomy of Syncharina and their close relatives.