A new monobasic leafhopper subgenus, Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) Li, Dai, and Li, subgen. nov., of the subfamily Macropsinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracoidea: Cicadellidae) is proposed to accommodate Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni Li, Dai, and Li, sp. nov. from Guangxi province of China. The new subgenus and new species are described and illustrated. They can be distinguished mainly by characteristics of the fore wings with two anteapical cells; weak dorsoventrally flattened body; aedeagal shaft with paired apical processes on ventral margin; and the shape of the dorsal connective. An updated checklist and an illustrated key for identification of the species of Varicopsella along with geographical distributions of the species are given.
Introduction
The oriental leafhopper genus Varicopsella Hamilton, 1980 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracoidea: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae) was established by Hamilton (1980) for six species from the Oriental region (Philippines and Borneo), with Macropsis breakeyi Merino, 1936 as its type species by original designation. One year later, Viraktamath (1981), described a new species from India. Up to now, no other species was described in this genus. Considering the vast land and abundant resources, macropsine fauna are likely to be richer in southern China, including the genus Varicopsella.
Deposited in our collection from Guangxi Province of China (included in the Oriental Region), two specimens were found that bear the distinct generic characteristics of Varicopsella: the fused sclerites between lora and frons on face, and the independently evolved dorsal connectives and pygofer processes in males. These specimens have been identified as a new species of Varicopsella, and on the basis of the distinctive feature that the fore wings of the new species have two anteapical cells, we propose to place it in a new subgenus. The identification was verified by K. G. A. Hamilton, pers. comm. (Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada).
In this paper, the genus Varicopsella is reported for the first time from China based on the new species. The new taxa (Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni Li, Dai, and Li, subgen. nov. and sp. nov. from Guangxi province (China) are described and illustrated. Photographs of imago and illustrations of the male genitalia are provided, and an illustrated key to the species of the genus based on the original descriptions and illustrations, with a map of distribution of the genus based on the primary, data are given.
Materials and Methods
Morphological terminology used in this work follows Hamilton (1980) and of the rows of setae on the legs follows Rakitov (1998). The type specimens examined here are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
Nomenclature
This paper and the nomenclature it contains have been registered in ZooBank. The LSID number is:
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F8C13A75-E433-4DA8-8534-1144943E3686
Systematics
Subfamily Macropsinae Evans, 1938
Genus Varicopsella
Hamilton, 1980
Subgenus Varicopsella (Varicopsella) Hamilton, 1980
Varicopsella Hamilton, 1980: 900.
Type species: Macropsis breakeyi Merino, 1936.
Remarks. The genus Varicopsella can be distinguished from other Macropsinae mostly by the following characteristics: fused sclerites between lora and frons on face, and the unique male dorsal connectives each formed by two articulating parts with ventral pair appressed or fused with each other and dorsal ones produced as variously-shaped projections among species. The unique distinctive feature of the nominate subgeneric Varicopsella (Varicopsella) is fore wings with three anteapical cells.
Distribution. Oriental, distributed in Philippines, Borneo, and India (Hamilton 1980).
Subgenus Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) Li, Dai, and Li, subgen. nov.
Type species: Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni Li, Dai and Li, sp. nov.
Description. Body (Fig. 1–4) typical wedgeshaped; head, face, pronotum, and scutellum strongly striated.
Head (Fig. 1), in dorsal view, clearly arcuate anteriorly, and width across eyes equal to pronotum, crown shorter medially than besides eyes. Face (Fig. 4), across eyes slightly wider than long, obviously co-planar, with lora fused to frons, lacking clear sutures between them, dorsal part with median carina, along it bilaterally with slant striations ended below ocelli; distance between ocelli about 5× longer than that of ocellus to adjacent eye. Pronotum (Fig. 1) 2.1× as long as wide, anterior margin strongly prominent, posterior margin slightly concave medially, almost straight, surface with strongly oblique striations along median carina. Scutellum (Fig. 1) nearly triangular, with 1.2× as long as pronotum, strongly striated except bilateral corners with relatively smooth surface, coalescent suture between mesonotum and secutellum distinct, arcuate. Forewings opaque (Fig. 1–3), with 2 anteapical cells, veins protruding. Hind femoral macrosetae (Fig. 6) 2+1; hind tibia (Fig. 5) with 8 macrosetae on AD row, 5 on AV row, 11 on PD row, dense and slender on PV row.
Male genitalia. Pygofer (Fig. 7–8) broad basally, ventral margins with some setae subapically and produced into triangular processes with small spines on surface. Subgenital plates (Fig. 7) slender with scattered setae. Styles (Fig. 9) slender with marginal setae, nearly angled on basal 0.45, slightly intumescent subapically, apex nearly rectangular on ventral margin. Connective (Fig. 10–11) similar to others of genus. Aedeagus (Fig. 12–13) simple, broad basally, shaft sinuated, shaft apex sharp, dorsally directed, with pair of processes on ventral margin, dorsal apodeme weakly developed, ventral margin concave in middle; gonopore apical on ventral margin. Dorsal connectives (Fig. 14–15) strongly developed, ventral portions appressed with each other, dorsal portions slender, sinuate, with dorsal end bilobed.
Distribution. Oriental, China (new record of genus), Guangxi Province.
Remarks. The new subgenus can be easily distinguished from the other Varicopsella subgenus by the fore wings with two anteapical cells; weakly flattened external form of the body; unique male aedeagal shaft with paired apical processes on ventral margin; and shape of the dorsal connective.
Etymology. The subgenus name is derived from the Latin words “multi-” and “spinulosus” because of the several spines on the ventral margin projections of the pygofer lobe. The gender of the subgenus is feminine.
Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni Li, Dai, and Li sp. nov.
Measurements. Body length including tegmina, ♂, 3.9–4.1 mm.
Body color. Background color (Fig. 1–4) yellowish-green, striations on head, face, and pronotum with same tint as background except posterior margin of pronotum with brown markings. Head, face, and pronotum (Fig. 1–4) yellowish-green. Eyes brown, with some what slightly and occasionally red crown; ocelli brightly lucid; antennal fossa, scape, pedicel, and flagellum successively vary from yellowish green to brown; terminal anteclypeus, beak, and outer margins of both lora yellowish-brown to brown. Scutellum (Fig. 1) fully black except bilateral margins slightly yellowish-brown medially. Fore wings (Fig. 1–3) dark brown, except terminal regions of veins 1A, distal claval suture and outer anteapical part with brown maculae successively enlarged in size, veins clearly spotted with white. Legs (Fig. 5–6) brown with black maculae.
Structural morphology. As in generic description.
Male genitalia. Pygofer (Fig. 7–8), in lateral view, broad basally, truncate caudally, in ventral view, ventral margins with some setae subapically and elongate to nearly triangular processes slightly exceeding pygofer length, and with several small spines on surface. Subgenital plate (Fig. 7), in lateral view, rodlike, scattered with hair-like setae, apex with bunched long setae, slightly projecting beyond pygofer. Style (Fig. 9), slender, margined with some setae, nearly angled on basal 0.45, slightly inflated subapically, apex angular with dorsally twisted digitation. Connective (Fig. 10–11), in dorsal aspect, clearly longer than wide, with anterior margin strongly wider than posterior margin, anterior margin excavated medially, and with finger-like process in middle, both lateral arms slender and blend dorsally. Aedeagus (Fig. 12–13) tubular, broad basally, shaft apex sharpened, with pair of triangular processes on ventral margin; in lateral aspect, dorsal apodeme weakly developed, shaft sinuated, ventral margin concave medially, tip twisted to dorsum; in ventral aspect, shaft nearly parallel margined; gonopore on ventral margin, apical. Dorsal connective (Fig. 14–15) strongly developed, ventral portions appressed with each other, with dorsal end bearing two digitations; in lateral view, dorsal portions long, sinuate; in caudal view, ventral paired digitations ventrally directed to each other.
Female. Unknown.
Materials examined. Holotype, ♂, CHINA: Guangxi Province, Longsheng County, Huaping National Natural Reserve, 18. V. 2012, collected by Li Hu; Paratype, 1 ♂, CHINA: Guangxi Province, Baise City, Tianlin County, Langping Village, 23. IV. 2012, collected by Yang Weicheng.
Distribution. Guangxi prov. (Huaping, Langping), China (Fig. 21).
Etymology. This species is named in honor of K. G. A. Hamilton for excellent contributions to the Auchenorrhyncha systematics and invaluable help to the first author.
Updated checklist and distributions of the species of genus Varicopsella Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni sp. nov. Distribution. China (Huaping, Langping).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) basilana (Merino) Macropsis basilana Merino, 1936: 323. Varicopsella basilana, Hamilton, 1980: 900. Distribution. Philippines (Basilan, Mindanao).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) breakeyi (Merino) Macropsis breakeyi Merino, 1936: 320.
Varicopsella breakeyi, Hamilton, 1980: 900.
Distribution. Philippines (Mindanao).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) davaoensis (Merino) Macropsis davaoensis Merino, 1936: 325.
Varicopsella davaoensis, Hamilton, 1980: 900.
Distribution. Philippines (Mindanao).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) elegans Viraktamath Varicopsella elegans Viraktamath, 1981: 306.
Distribution. India (Himalayas).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) luzonensis (Merino) Macropsis luzonensis Merino, 1936: 324.
Varicopsella luzonensis, Hamilton, 1980: 900.
Distribution. Philippines (Luzon).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) obtusa Hamilton Varicopsella obtusa Hamilton, 1980: 919.
Distribution. Borneo (Sandakan).
Varicopsella (Varicopsella) otanesi (Merino) Macropsis otanesi Merino, 1936: 323.
Varicopsella otanesi, Hamilton, 1980: 900.
Distribution. Philippines (Basilan, Mindanao).
Key to the Subgenera and Species of Male Varicopsella
The Varicopsella species are keyed based on the variations of male genitalia, therefore two species only known by the female, V. (V.) basilana (Merino, 1936) and V. (V.) davaoensis (Merino, 1936), are excluded from the key.
1. Body form not strongly flattened dorsoventrally (Fig. 3); fore wings with 2 anteapical cells (Fig. 3); aedeagal shaft with pair of triangular processes apically (Fig. 13) V. (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni subgen. nov. and sp. nov.
—Body form strongly flattened dorsoventrally; fore wings with 3 anteapical cells; aedeagal shaft without pair of triangular processes apically (Fig. 16–20) V. (Varicopsella) 2
2. Pygofer with one small, inturned spine on each lobe (Fig. 16); ventral part of dorsal connective fused to each other (Fig. 16) V. (Varicopsella) breakeyi
— Pygofer with two small apical spines or teeth on each lobe (Fig. 17–20); ventral part of dorsal connective appressed with each other (Fig. 17–20) 3
3. Dorsal connective short with tip bifid or trifid (Fig. 17, 19) 4
— Dorsal connective slender with tip sharp, not furcated (Fig. 18, 20) 5
4. Dorsal connective with tip trifid (Fig. 19); aedeagal shaft sinuate (Fig. 19) V. (Varicopsella) obtuse
— Dorsal connective with tip bifid (Fig. 17); aedeagal shaft arched but not sinuate (Fig. 17) V. (Varicopsella) elegans
5. Pygofer with two small spines on each lobe (Fig. 20); dorsal connective elongate process with dorsal end directed ventrally (Fig. 20) V. (Varicopsella) otanesi
— Pygofer with two extremely tiny spines on lobe (Fig. 18); dorsal connective elongate process with dorsal end directed dorsally (Fig. 18) V. (Varicopsella) luzonensis
Figures 1–6.
Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni sp. nov. (male). (1) Habitus, dorsal view; (2) Dorsolateral view; (3) Lateral view; (4) Face; (5) Hind tibia of both leg, caudal view; (6) Hind femur of left leg, lateral view. Scale bar = (1–3, 5) 1.0 mm, (4, 6) 0.5 mm.
Figures 7–15.
Male genitalia of Varicopsella (Multispinulosa) hamiltoni sp. nov. (7) Pygofer lobe and subgenital plate, lateral view; (8) Pygofer processes and spines on ventral margin; (9) Apex of style, lateral view; (10) Connective, dorsal view; (11) Same, lateral view; (12) Aedeagus, lateral view; (13) Same, ventral view; (14) Dorsal connective, lateral view; (15) Dorsal end of dorsal connective, caudal view.
Figures 16–20.
Male genitalia of Varicopsella species: pygofer lobe, aedeagus and dorsal connective, lateral view. (16) Varicopsella (Varicopsella) breakeyi; (17) V. (V.) elegans; (18) V. (V.) luzonensis; (19) V. (V.) obtusa; (20) V. (V.) otanesi. (16, 18–20. After Hamilton, 1980; 17. After Viraktamath, 1981).
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank K. G. A. Hamilton (Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON) for the kind suggestions to study; also thank our colleague and friend Mr. Wei-Cheng Yang (Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University) for providing the material for study. This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31000952).
