Thaioasca Wang, Xu & Qin, 2021

Wang, Yi-Mei, Xu, Ye, Dmitriev, Dmitry A., Dietrich, Christopher H. & Qin, Dao-Zheng, 2021, Two new empoascine leafhopper genera, Thaioasca and Mjolnirus, from Thailand (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae), with a checklist of Empoascini in Thailand, Zootaxa 4915 (2), pp. 246-254 : 247

Thaioasca Wang, Xu & Qin , gen. nov.

Type species: Thaioasca contaminata Wang, Xu & Qin sp. nov.

Description. Body robust. Head including eyes distinctly wider than maximum width of pronotum, eyes in dorsal view narrower than distance between basomedial angles and wider than half of distance between basomedial angles ( Figs 1, 3 ). Coronal suture extended nearly to anterior margin of crown ( Fig. 3 ). Ocelli present ( Fig. 4 ). Lateral frontal sutures extended below ocelli, male anteclypeus tapered and weakly convex, not expanded ( Figs 2, 4 ). Forewing narrow, rounded apically, veins R2 and RM confluent for short distance, distal segments of both arising from m cell, vein RM and MCu almost parallel apically ( Fig. 5 ). Hind wing with veins MP and CuA confluent ( Fig. 6 ).

Fore femur with 2 or 3 enlarged AV setae on basal margin. Middle femur with 2 distinct dorsoapical macrosetae. Hind femur setal formula 2+1+1, tibia row AV with 4 macrosetae near apex.

Male basal abdominal sternal apodemes (2S apodemes) developed ( Fig 7 ). Pygofer elongated, extended into sharp point, strongly depressed dorsally in profile, dorsal bridge undeveloped, membranous, ventral appendage robust ( Figs 8–12 ). Subgenital plates fused at least at base, basal setal group submarginal near midlength of plate; marginal microsetae sparse, limited to distal part of plate margin; macrosetae uniseriate basally, somewhat irregular apically; feeble microsetae present but inconspicuous ( Figs 8 , 10, 13 ). Style broadened at base, apex tapered and smooth, with preapical setae ( Figs 8 , 10, 14 ). Aedeagus shaft tubular, preatrium absent, dorsoatrium well developed, gonopore medial on ventral surface ( Figs 8, 9 , 15, 16 ). Connective not delimited, completely fused with base of aedeagus ( Figs 8 , 10 ). Anal tube process well-developed but short ( Figs 8 , 10, 17 ).

Distribution. Thailand.

Etymology. The generic name combines a prefix referring to the type locality ( Thailand) with the name of the type genus of the tribe, Empoasca . Gender: feminine.

Notes. Thaioasca is included in the Ficiana generic group sensu Xu et al. (2015). The new genus resembles other members of this group in the proportions of the head (crown shorter than width between eyes), the fore- and hind wing venation, and in having the subgenital plates fused basally and the connective fused to the aedeagus. Thaioasca differs from Ficiana Ghauri , Dialecticopteryx Kirkaldy , Ishiharella Dworakowska , and Mahmoodia Dworakowska in having the coronal suture extended to near the anterior margin of the crown (it extends onto the face in Ficiana and Dialecticopteryx but absent in Ishiharella and Mahmoodia ). From Kotwaria Dworakowska , Daluana Ramakrishnan , and Nimabanana Dworakowska the new genus differs in having a well-developed anal tube appendage (absent in these other three genera). Thaioasca is, so far, the only member of the Ficiana group with a ventral appendage on the pygofer; thus, the definition of the group provided by Xu et al. (2015) should be modified accordingly. Fusion of the connective with the base of the aedeagus in this group has been confirmed by study of specimens of three genera in addition to the new genus, Ishiharella , Ficiana , and Dialecticopteryx ; and is indicated by the original illustrations of male genitalic characters of the type species of the other four included genera ( Mahmoodia , Nimabanana , Kotwaria , and Daluana ; see Dworakowska, 1970a: figs 2, 6; Dworakowska, 1984: figs 65, 75, 76; Dworakowska, 1994b: figs 62, 63; Ramakrishnan, 1982: fig. 8). Further investigations are needed to determine the phylogenetic status and relationships of this group.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Thaioasca contaminata Wang, Xu & Qin sp. nov. 1. male adult (abdomen removed), dorsal view; 2. male adult (abdomen removed), left lateral view; 3. head and thorax, dorsal view; 4. face; 5. forewing; 6. hind wing; 7. abdominal apodeme; 8. male genitalia, left lateral view; 9. male genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars= 0.5 mm (Figs 1–9).

FIGURES 10–17. Thaioasca contaminata Wang, Xu & Qin sp. nov. 10. male genitalia, left lateral view; 11. pygofer lobe with ventral appendage, left lateral view; 12. pygofer, dorsal view; 13. subgenital plates; 14. style; 15. aedeagus, left lateral view; 16. aedeagus, dorsal view; 17. anal tube, left lateral view.