Nivalios, Zhang, Ya-Lin, Peng, Ling-Fei & Wang, Ying-Lun, 2011

Zhang, Ya-Lin, Peng, Ling-Fei & Wang, Ying-Lun, 2011, Nivalios gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), first record of the tribe Nephesini from China, Zootaxa 2882, pp. 19-26 : 20-21

Nivalios gen. n.

Type species. Nivalios punctatus sp. n.

Medium-sized planthoppers. Head short and wide. Frons convex, wider than long, with median longitudinal carina; dorsal margin rounded onto dorsum of head, replacing vertex. Vertex remnants triangular, concealed beneath anterior margin of pronotum. Antennal segment II not extending beyond anterior margin of gena. Pronotum granular, without longitudinal carina, postocular eminence conical. Mesonotum slightly quadrilateral, with three longitudinal lines or unclear. Tegmina no more than two times longer than wide; costal and apical margins smoothly convex, one subapical line of crossveins; costal membrane broader than costal cell at bulla; apical and sutural angles broadly rounded; Sc and R united from base to form a stem arising from basal cell. Metatibia bearing one lateral spine.

Distribution. China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan).

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin word “ nivalis ” meaning “snow-like”, which refers to type of the genus having spots and dust on its tegmina. The gender is masculine.

Remarks. This new genus is placed into the tribe Nephesini by the following combination of characteristics: medium in size; tegmina no more than two times as long as broad, claval vein and basal clavus not elevated; postocular eminence conical, not ridged; antennal segment II not extending beyond anterior margin of gena.