Distantasca ricina Zhang and Liu

Liu, Yang, Fletcher, Murray J. & Zhang, Ya-Lin, 2014, Reinstatement of Distantasca Dworakowska (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Empoascini) as a valid genus with new species and new combinations, Zootaxa 3869 (1) : -

Distantasca ricina Zhang and Liu , sp. nov.

( Figs 16–24 , 27, 30, 33 )

Type materials. China: holotype: ♂, Yunnan Prov.: Jinghong, 5.xi. 1999, 500 m, coll. Daozheng Qin, ex Ricinus sp.; paratypes: Yunnan Prov.: 6 ♂♂, Dali, 11.ix.1999, 2000 m, coll. I. Dworakowska, ex Ricinus sp.; 7 ♂♂, Dali, 11.xi.1999, 2000 m, coll. Daozheng Qin, ex Ricinus sp.; 3 ♂♂, Dali, 12.xi.1999, 2000 m, coll. Daozheng Qin; Hainan Prov.: 2 ♂♂, Lingshui, 9.v.1983, coll. Yalin Zhang. All in NWAFU.

Length: ♂ 3.2 mm – 3.3 mm.

Body green, crown yellow to greenish. Midline of crown with one longitudinal patch. Eyes brownish. Ocelli surrounded by light yellow-greenish patches. Basal part of face dark yellow to yellow-greenish, remainder yellowgreenish. Pronotum yellow-greenish. Scutoscutellar sulcus brown, central and basal margin with light yellow spots, lateral part with cream spots. Forewing and hind wing hyaline, forewing yellow-greenish. Ventral and basal part of abdomen orange. Legs from light green to yellow-greenish.

Ventral abdominal apodemes reaching segment V, parallel-sided ( Fig 24 ). Male pygofer slightly narrowing caudad, ornamented with 9–11 rigid setae on each side of pygofer lobe ( Fig 16 ). Pygofer appendage well developed, sigmoid in lateral view, exceeding caudal margin of lobe, with short tubercle on ventral part ( Fig 17 ). Anal tube process curved, tapering apically ( Fig 23 ). Subgenital plate narrow, sinuate, with numerous macrosetae and somewhat irregular fine setae; group A with 4–5 long stout setae subbasally, group B with 13–14 short microsetae on apical half ( Fig 19 ). Paramere with 5 teeth on dentifer, 2–4 setae subapically ( Fig 22 ). Connective broad, with anterior margin deeply emarginated medially, stem only slightly constricted ( Fig 18 ). Aedeagal shaft broad, as long as preatrium ( Figs 20–21 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from that of the host plant genus Ricinus L.

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Empoasca (Distantasca) tiaca Dworakowska , but differs from the latter in having the pygofer appendage more strongly sigmoid with a ventral subbasal tooth and the subgenital plate with group C setae extended to the apex.

Host. Ricinus sp.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 24. Distantasca ricina, 16, male pygofer, lateral view; 17, pygofer appendage; 18, connective; 19, subgenital plate; 20, aedeagus, ventral view; 21, aedeagus, lateral view; 22, paramere; 23, anal tube appendage; 24, abdominal apodemes.

FIGURES 25 – 33. Distantasca smithi: 25, head and thorax; 28, whole body, lateral view; 31, whole body, dorsal view. Distantasca longihamatilis: 26, head and thorax; 29, whole body, lateral view; 32, whole body, dorsal view. Distantasca ricina: 27, head and thorax; 30, whole body, lateral view; 33, whole body, dorsal view.