Xenovarta falcata, Xing, Ji-Chun & Li, Zi-Zhong, 2015

Xing, Ji-Chun & Li, Zi-Zhong, 2015, Species checklist for the tribe Vartini Zahniser & Dietrich, 2013 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3931 (3), pp. 438-442 : 440

Xenovarta falcata sp. nov.

Figs. 1–10

Yellownish green, margins of vertex anterior to eyes light red. Median area of frontoclypeus, basal areas of clypellus and lora ochraceous Pronotum with two light red stripes on either side of median line. Scutellum laterally and basally brownish ochraceous. Forewings with light red stripes, apical area brownish hyaline.

Vertex acutely triangularly produced in front of eyes, lateral margins sharp, upturned, 2 times as long as interocular width, 1.6 times as long as pronotum. Eyes fairly large, ocelli on anterior margin. Pronotum wide, its length is about half the width, anterior margin strongly and roundly produced, posterior margin slightly concave. Scutellum triangular, its length slightly shorter than length of pronotum, with transverse suture curved and depressed. Forewings with four apical cells and three subapical cells.

Male genitalia. Pygofer roundedly incised on dorsal margin and sharply incised ventrally, with a number of macrosetae on caudo-dorsal area ( Fig. 5 ). Valve fused to subgenital plates, the latter with uniseriate row of macrosetae ( Fig. 6 ). Aedeagus with well-developed dorsal apodeme, aedeagal shaft asymmetrical, twisted in distal half, curved dorsad, slightly arched in lateral aspect, its subapex with a lamellar process, approximately sickleshaped; apex sinuate, extending well beyond gonopore; gonopore subapical on ventral side ( Figs. 7, 8 ). Connective Y-shaped, its stem slightly shorter than arms ( Fig. 9 ). Style with well-developed subapcial lobe, apophysis fingerlike ( Fig. 10 ).

Measurement. Length (including tegmen): ♂, 6.1mm.

Type Material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Guangxi Autonomous Region, Shangsi County, Shiwadashan, 9 April 2012, coll. Zaihua Yang ( GUGC).

Distribution. China (Guangxi)( Fig. 11 ).

Remarks. This new species is similar to Xenovarta ankusha Viraktamath in having the aedeagal shaft twisted at mid length, slightly arched in lateral aspect; its subapex with a process; and gonopore subapical. It can be distinguished from the latter by the aedeagal shaft with a lamellar subapical process, approximately sickle-shaped; style apophysis fingerlike and without transverse rugulae; pygofer side with middle of dorsal margin and ventral margin strongly inflexed.

Etymology. The new species name is derived from the Latin words “ falcata ”, indicating the subapical of aedeagal shaft with a sickle-shaped process.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Geographic distribution of Xenovarta falcata sp. nov. in China (▲).

FIGURES 1 – 10. Xenovarta falcata sp. nov. 1. ♂, dorsal view; 2. ♂, lateral view; 3. ♂, head and thorax, dorsal view; 4. ♂, face; 5. Male pygofer side, lateral view; 6. Valve and subgenital plate, ventral view; 7. Aedeagus, lateral view; 8. Aedeagus, ventral view; 9. Connective. 10. Style, dorsal view.