In this work, the nymphs of Quesada gigas (Olivier) are described and illustrated. A key for the recognition of its five nymphal instars is also provided. Specimens were collected in coffee plantations in São Sebastião do Paraíso, Monte Santo de Minas and Patrimônio (State of Minas Gerais); Franca and Casa Branca (State of São Paulo). They are preserved in alcohol 80% and deposited at the collection of the Departamento de Fitossanidade da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias da Universidade do Estado de São Paulo (FCAV/UNESP) in Jaboticabal. The characters analyzed were: antenna, wing buds, fore legs, apex of the meso and metathoracic tibiae and abdominal apex of male/female. A formula was adopted to indicate the number and sequence of the teeth of the prothoracic femur. Q. gigas nymphs present the following formula: first instar: 2-1-0, the second: 2-1-3, the third: 2-1-5, the fourth: 2-1-6 and the fifth instar: 2-2-8. First number refers to the sum of posterior and acessory teeth, the second one refers to the number of intermediate teeth and the third refers to the teeth of femoral comb. The structures of the prothoracic femur are reliable morphological characters that can be used to identify and determine the cicada nymph instars.
Cicadoidea; cicada; Coffea arabica; identification; morphology
