S. fasciatus Andrade 1989: 696.

Pronotum with 3 posterior spines; forewing (Fig. 1) with veins R, M, and Cu fused basally, R and M strongly divergent at about 1/3 distance of wing length, with crossvein s (between radial veins), 1 r-m and 2 m-cu crossveins; hind wing (Fig. 1) with 1 r-m and 1 m-cu crossvein; metathoracic trochanters without apposed processes; metathoracic tibia chaetotaxy variable.

South America.

The only discrepancy between the generic description by Andrade (1989) and the newly described species is that he reported metathoracic tibial cucullate rows II and III double and, by implication, row I single. This pattern is also found in Ceresini (Deitz 1975). In contrast, S. duocornus has row I absent and S. robustus has rows I and III double and row II absent. Among Darninae, some Darnini and some Hemikypthini lack tibial cucullate setae row I, but only some Hemikypthini lack row II (Deitz 1975). Consequently, leg chaetotaxy does not provide evidence resolving the relationship of Smilidarnis to other treehoppers.

The forewing venation of the three new species described here matches that of S. fasciatus, in that the veins R₄₊₅ and M₁₊₂ are distally separate; in S. concolor Andrade, those veins are confluent for short distance before the apex. Among all five species of Smilidarnis, only S. concolor has the forewing veins R and M fused then separated preapically (as in Smiliinae). Smilidarnis duocornus and S. robustus resemble each other in the shape of the frontoclypeus and pronotum, as do the other three species resemble each other in these respects.

In some membracids, the presence of abdominal fossae or digitate processes in adults (e.g., see Deitz 1975: fig. 3a) are indicators of scoli in nymphs; the absence of these suggests that the nymphs of Smilidarnis probably lack scoli. Further collecting of these exceedingly rare treehoppers and happenstance rearing is needed to elucidate their biology and immatures.

Pronotum with pair of suprahumeral spines; pronotum broader across suprahumeral spines than across posterior spines.

Dimensions (mm). Length of pronotum 7.5; length including wings in repose 9.5; width across suprahumeral spine apices 4.5; width across posterolateral spine apices 3.0; height in anterior view 4.3. Head (Fig. 3). Ocelli circular, below imaginary midline between eyes; distance to eye 1.2× distance between ocelli; vertex with depression ventrolaterally adjacent to ocelli, pair of narrow diagonal depressions dorsally, with distinct sutures and frontoclypeus extending ventrally beyond vertex ventrolateral margins. Pronotum (Figs 2–4) with pair of stout suprahumeral spines; pronotum distinctly broader across suprahumeral spines than across posterior spines; weakly elevated immediately behind suprahumeral spines, this portion roughly trapezoidal in lateral view, abruptly narrowed laterally and expanding again to apical portion that bears pair of widely separated, stout lateral spines directed posteriorly and slender middle spine. Forewing (as in Fig. 1) R and M not confluent for short distance near apex. Leg chaetotaxy. Femora lacking cucullate setae and spines; metathoracic tibia row I lacking cucullate setae, row II cucullate setae sparse in single line, row III cucullate setae dense, single row basally, double row distally. Abdominal terga without pits, fossae, or digitate processes. Color. Head pale brown except darker in depressions and along sutures of frontoclypeus; pronotum pale brown throughout except dark brown mottling in anterior half, at bases of suprahumeral spines, and posteriorly across lateral spines.

Figures 2–7. 

Smilidarnis duocornus sp. nov. 2–4 habitus in dorsal, anterior, and lateral views, respectively 5–7 valvifers 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Sternite VII broadly emarginate medially (as in Fig. 17); valvula I (Fig. 5) long, apex subacute; valvula II (Fig. 6) in lateral view with dorsal margin linear in basal 2/3, then minutely sinuate, apex rounded; valvula III (Fig. 7) long, apex rounded, bearing macrosetae along entire ventral margin.

Unknown.

Holotype ♀ (INPA) with labels “BRAZIL: Rondonia. 62 | km SW Ariquemes, nr | Fzda. Rancho Grande | 5–17-X-1993 JE Eger | MV & Black Lights” and a red “HOLOTYPE | Smilidarnis | duocornus | S.H. McKamey”.

The species is a Latin adjective derived from “duo” for two, and “cornu” for horn, referring to the pair of stout suprahumeral spines.

The pronota of S. duocornus and S. robustus, which are both only known from a female holotype, closely resemble each other and have similar coloration. In some treehoppers, such as Quinquespinosa septamacula McKamey (2023), color and surprahumeral spine length is variable, so these differences alone might not suffice for species recognition. Nevertheless, these are considered separate species for several reasons: S. sobustus is almost 3 mm larger; its posterior portion is more elevated, and the apical lateral spines are directed more laterally. Futhermore, the setation of valvifer III is distinct; bearing macrosetae along ventral margin in S. duocornus (Fig. 7), in contrast to that of S. robustus, which bears fine hairlike setae on entire ventral half (Fig. 20).

Pronotum without pair of suprahumeral spines; vertex of head with four dark lines, outer pair adjacent to eyes and inner pair ventrally converging.

Dimensions (mm). Length of pronotum 8.5; length including wings in repose 10.0; width across humeri 3.7; width across posterolateral spine apices 1.5; height in anterior view 4.2. Head (Fig. 9). Ocelli circular, above imaginary middle line between eyes; distance to eye 0.8× distance between ocelli; vertex with adjacent depression ventrolaterally; frontoclypeus with indistinct sutures and evenly convex in line with ventrolateral margins. Pronotum (Figs 8–10). Humeral angles rounded, only slightly produced laterally from wing bases. Forewing (as in Fig. 1) R and M not confluent for short distance near apex. Leg chaetotaxy. Femora of pro- and metathorax lacking cucullate setae and spines (other femora missing); metathoracic tibiae missing. Abdominal terga without pits, fossae, or digitate processes.

(Figs 11–13). Pygofer (Fig. 11) including lateral plate subquadrate, lateral plate unarmed, ovate, pilose throughout, subgenital plate (Fig. 13) fused basally, its sides subparallel, slightly narrowing distally, length in ventral view about 2.3× width; style (Figs 11, 12) recurved with short acute apex; aedeagus (Figs 11, 12) U-shaped in lateral view, shaft subparallel in anterior and lateral views, lacking dentae or other texture on distoanterior portion; gonopore dorsal. Color. Pale brown throughout except 4 dark lines on head vertex (outer pair adjacent to eyes, inner pair overlapping ocelli and ventrally convergent), 1 large median, dark brown, anteriorly divergent, V-shaped mark on pronotal metopidium, all 3 apical spines with bases and apices black but pale at mid length.

Figures 8–13. 

Smilidarnis erwini sp. nov. 8–10 habitus in dorsal, anterior, and lateral views, respectively 11 pygofer, styles, and aedeagus, lateral view 12 aedeagus and styles, anterior view 13 subgenital plate, ventral view. lp lateral plate.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype ♂ (EPNC) with labels “ECUADOR: ORELLANA: Reserva Etnica Waorani, 1 | km S. OnkoneGare Camp Transect Ent 216.3m | 15-Jan-94 00°39'25.7"S, 076°27'10.8"W T.L | Erwin: et al Fogging Terre firme forest Lot 579”, and a red “HOLOTYPE | Smilidarnis | erwini | S.H. McKamey”. All legs are missing or badly damaged but the specimen, excluding its abdominal dissection, is otherwise intact.

The species is named to honor Terry Erwin for his innovative and revolutionary method of collecting insects through insecticidal fogging of the forest canopy, which has collected many new species, including this one.

The pronotal apex of S. erwini resembles that of S. fasciatus in having the bases and tips of the posterolateral spines black. In S. fasciatus, however, in addition to other differences, those lateral spines are nearly as long as the middle spine, in comparison to S. erwini, in which they are about half the length of the middle spine, and S. concolor, in which they are even more reduced.

Pronotum with pair of suprahumeral spines; pronotal width across posterior spines slightly greater than width across suprahumeral spines.

Dimensions (mm). Length of pronotum 10.3; length including wings in repose 12.4; width across suprahumeral spine apices 5.0; width across posterolateral spine apices 5.8; height in anterior view 5.1. Head (Fig. 16). Vertex wider than tall, glabrous, without irregular ridges, dorsal margin weakly convex, lateral margins straight; ocelli circular, below imaginary middle line between eyes; distance to eye 1.3× distance between ocelli; midline and frontoclypeal sutures prominent; frontoclypeus extending ventrally beyond vertex ventrolateral margins, with distinct sutures. Pronotum (Figs 14–16). Suprahumeral spines present with robust bases, projecting laterally and slightly ventrally; weakly elevated immediately behind suprahumeral spines, this posterior portion roughly trapezoidal in lateral view, abruptly narrowed laterally and expanding again to apical portion that bears pair of widely separated stout lateral spines and middle slender spine; lateral pair with apices broader than span of suprahumeral spines and directed posterolaterally, middle spine directed posteriorly and not attaining forewing vein M₃₊₄. Forewing (Fig. 1) R and M not confluent for short distance near apex. Leg chaetotaxy. Femora lacking cucullate setae and spines; metathoracic tibia row I cucullate setae double, row II absent, row III cucullate setae double.

Female terminalia. Sternite VII broadly, smoothly emarginate medially (Fig. 17); valvula I long, apex subacute (Fig. 18); valvula II (Fig. 19) in lateral view with dorsal margin linear in basal 2/3, then bearing 4 minute dentae followed by weak irregular expansion, apex rounded; valvula III (Fig. 20) long, apex rounded broadly, bearing fine hairlike setae on entire ventral half. Abdominal terga without pits, fossae, or digitate processes. Color. Pronotum burnt orange throughout except dark brown on suprahumeral spines, apex including lateral spines, this apical darkness interrupted by pair of subcircular pale spots on either side of the middle spine (visible in posterior view only); forewing anteriorly with amber tint, otherwise hyaline; ventrally concolorous with pronotum except black meso- and metathoracic coxae and pleural area between them.

Figures 14–20. 

Smilidarnis robustus sp. nov. 14–16 habitus in dorsal, lateral, and anterior views, respectively 17 abdominal segment VII, ventral view 18–20 valvifers 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype ♀ (USNM) with labels “Shapajilla, | Peru | May, 1939”, “WDFunkhouser | Collection | 1962”, “Omalon [sic] | sp. nov.”, “Deitz Research | 71-350a ♀”, “CHD Research | #98-0004”, and a red “HOLOTYPE | Smilidarnis | robustus | S.H. McKamey”. There are several parts missing from the holotype: prothoracic left tibia and tarsi (the right is covered in glue), mesothoracic left tarsi (the right is covered in glue), and the metathoracic left trochanter to tarsi. The holotype has the left wing with an aberration of a thin third m-cu crossvein.

The species epithet is a masculine adjective referring to the overall robustness of this species’ pronotum.