Neurotettix spinas, Wang & Yang & Chen, 2021

Wang, Jing, Yang, Lin & Chen, Xiang-Sheng, 2021, A new bamboo-feeding species of the leafhopper genus Neurotettix Matsumura (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) from China, Zootaxa 4908 (1), pp. 141-146 : 142-144

Neurotettix spinas sp. nov.

Figs 1–17 .

Measurements. Body length (including forewing): male 5.1-5.2 mm; female 5.3-5.4 mm; forewing length: male 4.3-4.4 mm; female 4.5-4.6 mm.

Coloration. Body yellow-brown, vertex with black spots along anterior margin, and with two irregular orange markings behind the spots ( Figs 1–2 ). Eyes yellowish brown, ocelli white ( Figs 3–4 ). Face brown, black transverse streaks and a yellow longitudinal band. Antennae pale yellowish white. Anteclypeus yellowish brown with apex dark-brown ( Figs 3, 5 ). Pronotum brownish yellow, with 6 yellowish brown longitudinal markings ( Fig. 4 ). Scutellum yellowish brown, basal and lateral angles pale brown ( Fig. 4 ). Forewings yellowish-brown, with irregular fuscous markings, viens yellowish-white, apical part of forewings pale brown ( Figs 1–2 ). Legs with dark spots ( Fig. 2 ). Female abdominal genital segment pale yellowish white ( Fig. 13 ).

Head and thorax. External features as in generic description. Crown shorter medially than width between eyes (0.54:1) ( Figs 1–4 ). Pronotum longer medially than crown (1.56:1) ( Fig. 4 ). Scutellum shorter medially than pronotum (0.82:1) ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing longer than width at widest part (3.17:1) ( Figs 1–2 ).

Male genitalia. Male pygofer broad triangular in lateral view, apex tapered, with three stout setae along dorsocaudal margin, ventro-posterior margin with short appendage curved upward ( Fig. 6 ). Valve triangular ( Fig. 7 ). Subgenital plate short and broad, lateral and apical margins convex except for slight preapical lateral concavity, with row of macrosetae extended obliquely from lateral to mesal margin near midlength ( Fig. 8 ). Aedeagus asymmetric and twisted in ventral view, base robust, shaft medially on dorsal side with a short spine, apex curved to the left, gonopore subapical ( Figs 9–10 ). Connective nearly X-shaped, arms longer than stem ( Fig. 11 ). Style elongate, base broad, with apex of apophysis curved, tapering apically, fine setae at the curvature ( Fig. 12 ).

Female genitalia. Female seventh sternum with posterior margin broadly transverse between pair of short, rounded lateral lobes. First valvula curved, tapering apically with concatenate sculpture extended to dorsal margin ( Figs 14–15 ). Second valvula moderately slender through most of length, gradually tapered distally, dorsal margin with approximately 19 short, simple, acute teeth more or less evenly spaced over distal half, with hyaline region extended obliquely across middle and along ventral margin to distal fourth ( Figs 16–17 ).

Type material. Holotype: ³, China: Guizhou Province, Xishui County, Dongfeng Lake Nature Reserve (28°32´N, 106°23´E, 1204 m), 16. XIII. 2019, Hong-Xing Li, Nian Gong, Qiang Luo & Sha-Sha Lv . Paratypes: 4³³ 3♀♀, same as holotype ( GUGC) .

Host plant. Bamboo, Chimonobambusa angustifolia Chu & Chao ( Figs 18–20 ).

Remarks. This new species is similar to Neurotettix truncatus Dai, Xing & Li, 2011 , but can be distinguished from the latter by the asymmetrical aedeagus with a short median dorsal spine, the male pygofer with a short appendage, and the strongly convex apical margin of the subgenital plate.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin word “ spinas ”, referring to the median spine on the aedeagal shaft.

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Neurotettix spinas sp. nov. 1. Male habitus, dorsal view; 2. Male habitus, lateral view; 3. Face; 4. Head and thorax, dorsal view; 5. Head and thorax, lateral view; 6. Male pygofer, lateral view; 7. Genital valve; 8. left subgenital plate, ventral view; 9. Aedeagus, ventral view; 10. Aedeagus, lateral view; 11. Connective, dorsal view; 12. Left style, dorsal view.

FIGURES 13–17. Neurotettix spinas sp. nov. 13. Female abdominal sternum VII, ventral view; 14. First valvula, lateral view; 15. Apex of first valvula, lateral view; 16. Second valvula, lateral view; 17. Apex of second valvula, lateral view.

FIGURES 18–20. Host plant of Neurotettix spinas sp. nov.. Dongfeng Lake Nature Reserve, Xishui County, Guizhou Province, 16 August 2019, Photograph by Jing Wang.