Paracercopis unicolor Liang, Zhang & Xiao, 2023

Liang, Ai-Ping, Zhang, Pei-Yi, Zhu, Xiao-Qing, Wang, Ye-Qing & Xiao, Neng-Wen, 2023, The Oriental spittlebug genus Paracercopis Schmidt (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Cercopidae) revisited, with description of one new species from Hubei, China, Zootaxa 5306 (2), pp. 232-242 : 240

Paracercopis unicolor Liang, Zhang & Xiao , new species

( Figures 5A–C )

Diagnosis. This new species can be distinguished from other known species in Paracercopis by its largest body size (the largest currently known species in Paracercopis ); shining black head, pronotum and scutellum; and uniformly reddish brown forewings ( Figs 5A, 5B ). This new species is externally similar to P. fuscipennis ( Haupt, 1924) ( Fig. 5D ) from China, but can be distinguished from the latter by the body distinctly much larger and more broad and the forewings reddish brown ( Figs 5A, 5B ).

Description. Female. Body large, length (from apex of vertex to tip of forewing) 9.8–10.8 mm; oval in shape, shortly pilose, legs more strongly pilose.

Coloration. Head (including face), pronotum and scutellum uniformly shining black. Compound eyes grey. Ocelli bright and pale yellowish. Antennae black, with flagellar aristae grey. Forewings reddish brown. Thorax beneath blackish. Legs fuscous to black. Abdomen black, with posterior abdominal segmental margin dark rose.

Structure. Head short and broad, much narrower than pronotum, forwardly reclined; vertex transversely depressed in front of eyes, posterior disk convex; ocelli closer to each other than to eyes; postclypeus strongly inflated, moderately laterally compressed, upper three-fourths centrally, longitudinally, broadly sulcated ( Fig. 5C ); lateral areas with 10 transverse striae. Antennae with expanded flagellar base visible.

Pronotum relatively large and broad, coarsely punctate, and faintly centrally longitudinally carinate, with basal and apical parts of central carina invisible; anterior lateral areas depressed, foveate on each side near anterior margin; anterior lateral margins arched and reflexed, anterior field strongly sloping to depressed vertex; posterior lateral margins longer than anterior lateral margins. Scutellum centrally foveate and impressed at apex ( Fig. 5A ).

Forewings relatively broad, densely and finely punctate. Hindwings with Cu 1a and Cu 1b on short stalk, cross vein m-cu meeting Cu 1a well after furcation Cu 1a /Cu 1b, Cu 1b with basal half strongly arched against Cu2, fourth apical cell long and large. Posterior femora with one stout black-tipped spine on outer edge beyond middle and 12 black-tipped spines in two rows at apex.

Male. Unknown.

Host plants. Unknown.

Type material examined. Holotype ♀, China: Hubei Province, Yichang, Wufeng County, Houhe National Nature Reserve , Xiaosuidao , 950 m, 15.v.2018 (E. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, Q. Chen, D.M. Huang) ( IZCAS).

Paratypes. CHINA: Hubei Province: 2♀♀, Yichang, Wufeng County, Houhe National Nature Reserve , Jietou , 1163 m, 14.v.2018 (E. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, R. H. Gong, Q. Chen, D.M. Huang) ; 3♀♀, Yichang, Wufeng County, Houhe National Nature Reserve , Yaowan , 1180 m, 12.v.2018 (X.Q. Zhu, R. H. Gong, D.M. Huang, Q. Chen) ; 2♀♀, Yichang, Wufeng County, Houhe National Nature Reserve , Shuikuwan , 1193 m, 10, 13.v.2018 (E. Zhang, Y.Q. Wang, R. H. Gong, P.Y. Zhang) ( IZCAS, TNU) .

Other material examined (not syntypes). CHINA: 1♀, Hubei Province, Hefeng , 800–1200 m, 30.v.1989 (Wenzhen Ma) ( IZCAS) .

Etymology. This new species is named for its uniformly reddish brown forewings ( Figs 5A, 5B ).

Distribution. China (Hubei).

Remarks. The male specimens and examination of male genitalic structures of this new species are needed.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Paracercopis species. A–C. P. unicolor Liang, Zhang & Xiao, sp. nov., male adult, holotype (China: Hubei:Yichang). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, right dorsolateral view. C. Head, ventral view. D. P. fuscipennis (Haupt, 1924), male adult (China, Zhejiang), habitus, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1 cm.