Ramidelphax, Qin, Dao-Zheng & Zhang, Ya-Lin, 2006

Qin, Dao-Zheng & Zhang, Ya-Lin, 2006, Two new genera and two new species of Delphacidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) from China, Zootaxa 1204, pp. 61-68 : 62-63

Ramidelphax gen. n.

Type species. Ramidelphax albistriata n. sp.

Diagnosis. The genus Ramidelphax can be distinguished from other genera of Delphacini by the following combination of characters: vertex quadrate; submedian carinae uniting at extreme base of frons; frons with median carina simple; midline length of frons: greatest width about 2.4:1, widest at apex; antenna cylindrical, surpassing frontoclypeal suture; spinal formula of hind leg 5­7­4; post­tibial spur with about 30 teeth; male anal segment ring­like, lateroapical angles without spinose process; phallus tubular; genital styles rather long, widely divergent at basal half and each forked near middle.

Description. Head including eyes narrower than pronotum, vertex quadrate, longer submedially than wide at base by about 1.4:1, two lateral carina nearly parallel, submedian carinae originating near middle of lateral carinae, apical margin transverse. Y­shaped carina distinct. Frons narrower at base than at apex, midline length of frons: greatest width about 2.4:1, widest at apex, lateral carinae slightly sinuate, median carina simple, forked at extreme base, frontoclypeal suture arched upward. Postclypeus wider at base than frons at apex. Rostrum reaching to meta­coxae. Antenna cylindrical, fairly long, surpassing frontoclypeal suture, first segment about 1.9 times as long as wide, second segment about 2 times as long as first. Ocelli present.

Thorax. Pronotum slightly shorter than vertex medially, lateral carinae reaching near hind margin. Mesonotum longer on midline than vertex and pronotum together, median carina not reaching end of scutellum. Forewings long and narrow. Spinal formula of hind leg 5­7­4. Post­tibial spur with about 30 teeth.

Male genitalia. Anal segment of male short and ring­like, sunk in the emargination of pygofer, lateroapical angles roundly produced, without spinose process. Pygofer in profile with laterodorsal angle roundly produced, in posterior view with opening wider than long, without medioventral processes. Suspensorium inverted U­shaped. Diaphragm broad, in caudal view with dorsal margin slightly convex medially. Phallus tubular, stout and sinuated, with teeth at ventral margin of apical half. Genital styles rather long and slender, widely divergent at basal half, each forked near middle, the inner branch sharply turned lateroapically.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin word “rami­” (furcate), which refers to the genital styles being forked near the middle. Gender: feminine.

Distribution. Southern China (Hainan and Guizhou Provinces).

Discussion. The following are considered to be synapomorphies of this new genus: frons with median carina simple; male anal segment without spinose process; suspensorium inverted U­shaped; phallus tubular; genital styles rather long and each forked near middle, the inner branch sharply turned lateroapically.

The new genus is similar to Sogata Distant. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: anal segment of male short and ring­like, lateroapical angles roundly produced, without spinose process; phallus sinuate, with teeth at ventral margin of apical half, apical third not sharply turned down; suspensorium inverted U­shaped; genital styles rather long and widely divergent at basal half, forked near middle, the inner branch sharply turned lateroapically.