Versicolora bellula, Wei & Wang & Hayashi & He & Pham, 2020

Wei, Cong, Wang, Siyue, Hayashi, Masami, He, Miao & Pham, Hong Thai, 2020, New genus and species of Leptopsaltriini (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadinae) from China and Vietnam, with colour-changing behaviour reported for the first time in Cicadoidea, Zootaxa 4759 (2), pp. 277-286 : 281-285

Versicolora bellula sp. nov. ( Figs. 4–7 )

Type material. Holotype: ♂ ( NWAFU), China: Luchun County, Yunnan Prov., 21.VII.2015, coll. Hong Yang. Paratypes: 1♂ ( NWAFU), China: Luchun County, Yunnan Prov., 20–22.IX.2015, coll. Kaige Xu ; 1♀ ( NWAFU), China: Pingbian County, Yunnan Prov., 13–14.VIII.2015, coll. Yin Wang ; 1♂ ( NSMT), Vietnam: Mt. Phan Si Pang (1840–1920 m), Hoang Lien Son Mts., Sapa , Lao Cai Prov., 9.X.1994, S. Uéno leg. ; 1♂ ( VNMN), Vietnam: Cao Bang Prov., Phia Oac Moutain , 10.VIII.2012, T. H. Pham leg. ; 1♂ ( RMNH), NW Vietnam: Hoang Lien N. R., 15 km W Sa Pa (1500 m), 15–18.X.1999 (in mist-nets), R. Dekker (leg.) ; 1♂ ( RMNH), Vietnam: Lao Cai Prov., 5 km SSW of Sapa, nr. Cat-Cat (1400–1600 m), 23–29.X.1999, R. de Jong ; 1♂ ( RMNH), Vietnam (Lao Cai), Hoang Lien Son, Phan Si Pang, NW slopes near Sin Chai (2,100 m), 16.IX.2003, C. vd Berg & E. J. v. Nieukerken ; 1♀ ( RMNH), same locality except 8 km NW Sapa (1650 m), 22.IX.2003, same collectors ; 1♂ ( RMNH), Vietnam (Lao Cai), Sapa , in town, X.2001, 1500m, collector E. J. v. Nieukerken & J. C. Koster ; 1♀ ( RMNH), Vietnam (Lao Cai) Hoang Lien Son, Phan Si Pang ( Fansipan ) NW slopes near Sin Chai ; Tourist camp, RMNH /EVN no: 2003060; RMNH 2003-1041 , 16.IX.2003, at light, primary mountain broadleaved evergreen forest, 2100m, collector C. vd Berg & E. J. v. Nieukerken .

Measurements (in mm; n = 8♂♂, 3♀♀). Body length: ♂ 33.4–37.9, ♀ 29.3–29.8; forewing length: ♂ 41.2–45.1, ♀ 44.4–45.2; width of forewing: ♂ 14.9–16.0, ♀ 15.0–16.1; width of head including eyes: ♂ 8.2–8.8, ♀ 8.6–8.9; pro- notum width (including pronotal collar): ♂ 12.7–13.9, ♀ 13.4–14.3; mesonotum width: ♂ 10.2–11.9, ♀ 11.4–11.5.

Etymology. The species is named for the colorful markings on the thorax and forewings.

Description of male.

Head ( Figs 4 A–D, 6A–C, F, G). Green with large median black spot enclosing ocelli; black markings along frontoclypeal suture and posterior margin of head. Eyes dark brown, ocelli light brown to dark brown. Postclypeus pale or yellowish green, with series of black transverse fasciae. Anteclypeus yellowish-green. Rostrum yellow to brown, with black apex extending beyond hind coxae. Genae pale green or yellowish-brown, with dense, long silvery hairs.

Thorax ( Figs. 4 A–D, 6A–C, F, G). Pronotum almost yellowish-green, with pair of central black fasciae, extending from anterior margin nearly to posterior margin of pronotum; irregular brown spots near lateral fissures and paramedian fissures of pronotum; pronotal collar yellowish-green, posterior margin slightly rippled. Mesonotum mostly green, covered with golden hair and with curved black fascia surrounding each submedian sigilla and (sometimes) with black spot in each lateral sigilla. Cruciform elevation yellowish brown to green, with black spot along each anterior arm.

Legs ( Fig. 4B, D, H ). Mostly green with brown patches. Fore femur with only two spines, primary spine long and oblique; secondary spine short, triangular with rounded apex, extending subparallel to the femur (lying nearly horizontal).

Wings ( Figs 4 A–B, 6A–C, F, G). Hyaline. Forewing with distinct brown markings at each junction of apical cells and a marginal series of brown infuscations near apices of longitudinal veins in apical cells 2–5 and 7; a series of small stripes in marginal area.

Abdomen ( Figs 4 A–E, 6A–C, F, G). Cylindrical or barrel-shaped, about as long as head and thorax together, testaceous brown with irregular black markings on each tergite. Timbal covers brown and rounded. Opercula yellowish-green to yellowish brown, apart from each other, with rounded apex just extending beyond posterior margin of sternite II. Abdominal sternites mostly brown with pair of black markings on sternites IV–V laterally; sternite III with paired tubercle-like processes on centrolateral surface, distinctly longer than or as long as wide with rounded apices.

Genitalia ( Figs 4F, G , 7 A–D). Pygofer elliptical in ventral view. Dorsal beak of pygofer slightly developed, nearly triangular. Uncus not so curved inward toward apex and not widened apically, with apex bifurcated (triangularly notched at middle). Aedeagus thick, ventral part distinctly (triangularly) concave near apex, with triangularly to spiny expansion before (just basal from) the concavity in lateral view.

Description of female ( Figs 5 A–D, 6D, E). Opercula smaller, yellowish green. Abdominal segment VII with posterior margin triangularly incised at middle. Abdominal segment IX yellow with black markings. Ovipositor sheath protruding somewhat beyond abdominal segment IX (pygofer). Other characteristics similar to male.

Distribution. China (Yunnan), Vietnam (Lao Cai, Cao Bang).

Remarks. This new species is similar to V. ziyongi sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the markings on thorax and forewings, the shape of spines on fore femur, and also the shape of uncus and aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Versicolora bellula sp. nov., holotype, male, from Yunnan Province, China. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, ventral view; C. head and thorax, dorsal view; D. head and thorax, ventral view; E. abdomen, ventral view; F. male pygofer, ventral view; G. male pygofer, left latero-caudal view; H. left fore leg, showing the spines on femur. aed, aedeagus; as, anal style; db, dorsal beak; lul, lateral uncus lobe; mul, median uncus lobe; upl, upper lobe of pygofer.

FIGURE 5. Versicolora bellula sp. nov., paratype, female, from Yunnan Province, China. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, ventral view; C. female terminalia, ventral view; D. female terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURE 6. Versicolora bellula sp. nov., paratypes from Lao Cai Province (A–E) and Cao Bang Province (F–G), Vietnam. A. male habitus, dorsal view; B. male habitus, dorsal view; C. male habitus, ventral view; D. female habitus, dorsal view; E. female terminalia, ventral view; F. male habitus, dorsal view; G. male habitus, ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Versicolora bellula sp. nov., aedeagus of males from Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. A. male pygofer, ventral view; B. male pygofer, lateral view; C. male pygofer, left latero-caudal view; D. male pygofer (enlarged), left latero-caudal view.