Biprocessa, Meng, Ze-Hong & Yang, Mao-Fa, 2015

Meng, Ze-Hong & Yang, Mao-Fa, 2015, A new genus and species of Cicadellini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from China, Zootaxa 4039 (3), pp. 489-494 : 489-492

Biprocessa gen. nov. ( Figs 1–21 )

Type species: Atkinsoniella jiaoi Yang & Li, 2005 , here designated.

Diagnosis. The new genus can be recognized by the following combination of features: (1) male pygofer ( Figs 2 and 15 ) with dense microsetae basiventrally. Pygofer process geniculate, extending posterodorsally, apical half segmented distinctly; (2) aedeagus ( Figs 4–5 , 17–18 ) stubby; (3) paraphysis ( Figs 4–5 , 17–19 ) slender, in lateral view ventral margin angulate, in ventral view apical portion truncate; (4) style ( Figs 7 and 21 ) short, not extended posteriorly beyond stalk of connective, preapical lobe developed.

Description. Length. 7.2–7.6mm.

Coloration. Body pale to orange-yellow, with black spots.

External features. Head anterior margin round; median length of crown less than transocular width; ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles; lateral frontal suture extending onto crown, attaining ocelli; distance between ocelli equal to or slightly more than distance to adjacent eye; frontoclypeus flattened medially, muscle impressions distinct; transclypeal suture distinct medially. Pronotum broader than head, disk with inconspicuous transverse concavity anteriorly; mesonotum with surface of scutellum slightly convex; forewing with base of second apical cell more proximal than base of third; hindleg with femoral setal formula 2:1:1.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs 2 and 15 ) gradually narrowed posteriorly; disk with long and short macrosetae, with dense microsetae basiventrally; pygofer process abruptly bent dorsally and extending posteriorly beyond acute apex of pygofer, clavate, whole process geniculate, distinctly segmented distally. Subgenital plates ( Figs 3 and 16 ) produced posteriorly slightly beyond pygofer, with uniseriate oblique submedial row of macrosetae and long or short microsetae on ventral surface. Aedeagus ( Figs 4–5 , 17–18 ) stubby, extended little or no farther posterad than paraphysis. Paraphysis ( Figs 4–5 , 17–19 ) slender, longer than aedeagus, in lateral view with ventral margin angulate on median portion, in ventral view, apex widened with pair of angulate lateral projections. Connective ( Figs 6 and 20 ) Y-shaped. Style ( Figs 7 and 21 ) short, not extended posteriorly beyond stalk of connective, apical portion curved and abruptly narrowed, preapical lobe developed.

Female genitalia (based on Biprocessa jiaoi ). Abdominal sternite VII ( Fig. 8 ), in ventral view, with posterior margin approximately transverse. Internal sternite VIII membranous. Pygofer, in lateral view, moderately produced, surface with macrosetae on posterior portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Valvulae I ( Figs 9–10 ) in lateral view, with dorsal margin of shaft approximately rectilinear behind basal curvature; apex of shaft acute and slightly curved ventrally; dorsal sculptured area strigate, extending from basal portion of shaft to apex; ventral sculptured area strigate, restricted to apical portion; ventral interlocking device distinct on basal 2/5 of shaft. Valvulae II ( Figs 11–13 ) in lateral view, expanded beyond basal curvature, dorsal margin slightly convex, ventral margin approximately rectilinear; apex narrowly rounded, anteapical dorsal margin slightly concave and anteapical ventral margin obliquely straight; preapical prominence developed; dorsal margin of expanded area bearing about 20 triangular teeth; all teeth and dorsal and ventral margins of apical portion of shaft bearing denticles. Ducts dense, extending toward teeth and toward apical blade portion. Gonoplacs, in lateral view, expanded at apical half, surface with few setae on apicoventral margin.

Distribution. China (Guizhou, Yunnan)

Remarks. This new genus is similar to Atkinsoniella Distant, 1908 in some respects. Several species, such as A. albimacula , A. alcmena , A. chloritta , A. cuspidata , A. nigripennis and A. opponens , have long and strongly bent pygofer processes as in Biprocessa . However, in Biprocessa the pygofer process is distinctly segmented. Also, in the mentioned species of Atkinsoniella , the aedeagus is usually as long as the paraphysis, the paraphysis in ventral view is usually acute apically, and the styles extend posteriorly much beyond the apex of the connective. In Biprocessa , the aedeagus is much shorter than the paraphysis, the paraphysis is slender, in ventral view with pair of angulate lateral processes, and the styles do not extend posteriorly beyond the connective apex. Several species of Atkinsoniella , i.e., A. aurantiaca , A. curvata , A. cyclops , A. flavipenna , A. punica , A. rinkihonis , A. thalia , A. thaloidea and A. uniguttata , have similar color pattern with the species of Biprocessa . They are difficult to distinguish based on external characters, but can easily distinguished by the male genitalia features. In the above mentioned species of Atkinsoniella , the male pygofer processes are developed but not segmented; the aedeagus extends posteriorly distinctly farther than the paraphysis, and the styles extended much beyond the apex of the connective.

Etymology. The genus name is derived from “ bi -” and “ processa ” due to the two lateral angular processes on the paraphysis. The gender of the genus is feminine.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 13. Biprocessa jiaoi (Yang & Li, 2005) gen. nov. & comb. nov. 1, body, dorsal view. 2 – 7, male genitalia. 2, pygofer, lateral view. 3, subgenital plate, ventral view. 4, aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view. 5, aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view. 6, connective, ventral view. 7, style, ventral view. 8 – 13, female genitalia. 8, sternite VII, ventral view. 9, valvifer I and valvula I, lateral view. 10, dorsal sculptured area of median portion of valvula I, lateral view. 11, valvula II, lateral view. 12, teeth of median portion of valvula II, lateral view. 13, apical portion of valvula II, lateral view. Scale bars in millimeters.

FIGURES 14 – 21. Biprocessa shielda gen. nov. & sp. nov. 14, body, dorsal view. 15 – 21, male genitalia. 15, pygofer, lateral view. 16, subgenital plate, ventral view. 17, aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view. 18, aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view. 19, apical portion of paraphysis, caudal-ventral view. 20, connective, ventral view. 21, style, ventral view. Scale bars in millimeters.