Entomologist Dr Andrew Hicks from the University of Colorado has described a new species of the leafhopper genus Flexamia from the New Jersey Pine Barrens, located just east of the megalopolis that extends from New York City to Washington, DC.

“Flexamia is a charismatic North American leafhopper genus of specialist grass feeders with the species typically feeding upon a single, widespread host species,” Dr Hicks wrote in a paper in the journal ZooKeys.

“The hosts they spend their lives on include some of the iconic grasses of the American prairie, rangelands, and deserts, and Flexamia are often described as prairie or grassland leafhoppers.”

The newly-discovered species, Flexamia whitcombi, was named after the author’s mentor, colleague and friend, Dr Robert Whitcomb.

“The specific epithet honors an extraordinary mentor, colleague and friend, the late Dr Robert Whitcomb, who made, among many other accomplishments, major contributions to leafhopper taxonomy and ecology,” Dr Hicks wrote in the paper.

The scientist collected 35 specimens of Flexamia whitcombi on only one host species, pinebarren smokegrass (Muhlenbergia torreyana) — a state-listed threatened grass in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

“The description of any new species may serve as a catalyst for additional research, and this will be best accomplished while the species still can be found in nature,” Dr Hicks said.

“To delay the publication of a species description until the time of a genus revision is to deny the pace of change in the natural world in the 21st century and may consign said new species to a future status of known from a single collection, or, presumed extinct, life history unknown.”

The discovery was made with the help of Dr Uli Lorimer of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Dr Gerry Moore of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Greensboro, NC.

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Hicks A. 2015. In the shadow of a megalopolis, a new Flexamia from a threatened grass species in the New Jersey Pine Barrens (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Paralimnini). ZooKeys 511: 69-79; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.511.9572