Aconurella diplachnis Emelyanov, 1964

Tishechkin, D. Yu., 2023, Contributions to the study of the genus Aconurella Ribaut, 1948 (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) of the Western Palearctic, Russian Entomological Journal 32 (1), pp. 1-11 : 11

Aconurella diplachnis Emelyanov, 1964

Figs 8–12 , 28–32 , 47–49, 61–64, 86–95.

DIAGNOSTIC TRAITS. Macropterous, subbrachypterous, or brachypterous. In coloration, differs from A. quadrum and A. prolixa by strongly developed black pattern on crown in males, but similar in this trait to A. sibirica ( Figs 8–12 ).

Pygofer lobe with dorsoapical part strongly sclerotized and densely covered with spines increasing in size towards its distal end, with triangular or stripe-like semitransparent area in middle of distal half, and with 3–4 very large denticles on posteroventral margin ( Figs 61–64 ).

Differs from almost all members of the genus by large denticles on posteroventral margin of pygofer. Similar in this trait only to A. paradiplachnis Duan et Zhang, 2012 recently described from southern China (Guangxi Autonomous Region , Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces).

DISTRIBUTION. Northern Caucasus (new record), steppes in the plains and low mountains of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Southern Siberia, Mongolia, and China.

REMARKS. In North Ossetia, this species was collected in a mountain steppe with a predominance of xerophytic plant communities including Astragalus (Astracantha) denudata (Steven) Podlech ( Fabaceae ). Since such biotopes have a local distribution in the Northern Caucasus, apparently, this locality is separated from the main part of the range of A. diplachnis .

Figures

Figs 1–15. Aconurella spp., dorsal habitus. 1–4 — A. prolixa; 5–7 — A. quadrum; 8–12 — A. diplachnis; 13–15 — A. sibirica. 1–2, 6, 8–10, 13–14 — males, 3–4, 7, 11–12, 15 — females, 5 — after Herrich-Schäffer [1838]. Рис. 1–15. Aconurella spp., вид сверху. 1–4 — A. prolixa; 5–7 — A. quadrum; 8–12 — A. diplachnis; 13–15 — A. sibirica. 1–2, 6, 8–10, 13–14 — самцы, 3–4, 7, 11–12, 15 — самки, 5 — по: Herrich-Schдffer [1838].

Figs 16–35. Aconurella spp., aedeagus, lateral view. 16–25 — A. prolixa; 26–27 — A. quadrum; 28–32 — A. diplachnis; 33–35 — A. sibirica; the localities are given under the figures. Рис. 16–35. Aconurella spp., Эдеагус, вид сбоку. 16–25 — A. prolixa; 26–27 — A. quadrum; 28–32 — A. diplachnis; 33–35 — A. sibirica; места сбора укаЗаны под рисунками.

Figs 51–68. Aconurella spp., pygofer lobe, lateral view. 51–58 — A. prolixa; 59–60 — A. quadrum; 61–64 — A. diplachnis; 65–68 — A. sibirica; the localities are given under the figures. 65 — after Vilbaste [1980], modified. Рис. 51–68. Aconurella spp., долЯ пигофора, вид сбоку. 51–58 — A. prolixa; 59–60 — A. quadrum; 61–64 — A. diplachnis; 65–68 — A. sibirica; места сбора укаЗаны под рисунками. 65 — по: Вильбасте (1980), с иЗменениЯми.