Membranacea Qin & Zhang

Yu, Xiaofei & Yang, Maofa, 2013, Two new species of Membranacea Qin & Zhang from China (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Empoascini), ZooKeys 260, pp. 77-83 : 78-79

Genus Membranacea Qin & Zhang

Membranacea Qin & Zhang, 2011, Zootaxa, 2923: 48-58.

Type species.

Membranacea spinata Qin & Zhang, 2011

Description.

Body robust. Crown rounded at anterior margin, with a median black apical spot; coronal suture distinct, reaching anterior margin of vertex (Figs 1, 19). Ocellus present. Face elongated and convex in profile, lateral frontal suture present (Figs 2, 20). Pronotum wider and longer than crown (Figs 1, 19). Scutellum yellow with basolateral triangles and apex black; scutoscutellar sulcus distinct, not reaching lateral margin of scutellum (Figs 1, 19). Forewing rounded apically, apical cells less than one-third total length, RP and MP’ separated at base, both originated from r cell, MP’’+CuA’ from m cell, width of c cell equal with r cell (Figs 4, 22). Hindwing with CuA bifurcated, the branching point at or distad of coalescence of CuA with MP’’ (Figs 5, 23).

Male ventral abdominal apodemes well developed, rounded apically, reaching segment IV or V (Figs 7, 25). Male pygofer long, dorsal margin strongly concave, lightly sclerotized and less pigmented in basal 2/3 but more sclerotized apically, apex with few rigid microsetae; pygofer appendage absent (Figs 9, 27); dorsal bridge short (Figs 8, 26). Subgenital plate longer than pygofer (Figs 6, 24), basal broad, with an oblique line of macrosetae; outer margin slightly expanded at midlength and bearing few moderately long and stout setae forming the basal group (Figs 10, 28). Paramere shorter than pygofer, curved, narrowed from near midlength to apex, laterally with few setae, apex with teeth and sensory pits (Figs 14, 31). Aedeagal shaft elongated, curved posteriorly, with symmetrical flanges, gonopore apical on ventral surface; basal apodeme absent; preatrium developed (Figs 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 29, 30, 34, 35). Connective with base broad, apex narrow (Figs 16, 33). Anal tube as in Figs 15, 32.

Distribution.

China (Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan)

Remarks.

This genus is similar to Alebroides Matsumura, Apheliona Kirkaldy, Nikkotettix Matsumura, Ghauriana Thapa, Matsumurama Thapa, Bhatasca Dwora kowska and Luodianasca Qin & Zhang in having veins MP’ and RP in the forewing arising from cell r and CuA in the hindwing branched apically. The genus differs from these genera in the pygofer having the dorsal margin strongly concave with a weekly sclerotized area, and from Alebroides , Apheliona , Ghauriana , Matsumurama , Nikkotettix in lacking the ventral pygofer appendage. The genus differs from Bhatasca in having the basal group setae of the subgenital plate located near the midlength of the dorsal margin and from Luodianasca in the absence of ventrally projecting anal tube processes, the abdominal apodemes well developed and the subgenital plate having setae in the basal group. It also differs from Bhatasca and Luodianasca in having the lateral macrosetae of the subgenital plate arranged in two rows submedially.

Key to species (male)