Pseudosymplanella, Che, Yanli & Zhang, Yalin, 2009

Che, Yanli & Zhang, Yalin, 2009, A new genus and species of the planthopper tribe Augilini Baker (Hemiptera, Caliscelidae, Ommatidiotinae) from Thailand and China, Zootaxa 2311, pp. 49-54 : 50-53

Pseudosymplanella , new genus

Type species: Pseudosymplanella nigrifasciata , sp.nov.

Description. Head with eyes narrower than pronotum; vertex nearly hexagonal, broader than long, disc depressed, anterior margin a little convex, lateral margins distinctly carinate; ocelli present; frons slightly elevated with three carinae, anterior margin distinctly emarginated, longer than widest part; frontoclypeal suture nearly straight to slightly arched; clypeus convex with carina; rostrum long, reaching to metatrochanter. Pronotum moderately convex anteriorly, angularly emarginate posteriorly; disc slightly elevated with two pits. Mesonotum with pit along lateral margin; disc flattened; lateral areas obliquely depressed, almost twice as broad as length at middle. Tegmina subhyaline, relatively narrow, parallel-sided; veins distinct, claval suture present. Wings translucent, longer than half length of tegmen, with three lobes, much broader than tegmen; veins distinct. Legs relatively long. Male with U-shaped aedeagus short, genital style elongate. Female genitalia with gonoplacs short and rounded in lateral view.

Remarks. This genus runs to Symplanella in Fennah’s (1987) key, but it can be distinguished from the latter by: 1) vertex broader than long (as long as or longer than wide in Symplanella ); 2) male pygofer with laterodorsal angles produced into a spine (without spine in Symplanella ); 4) genital style simple (biramous in Symplanella ).

Etymology. The scientific name Pseudosymplanella refers to the strong resemblance of this genus to Symplanella . The genus is feminine in gender.

Distribution. China (Yunnan), Thailand.

1. Pseudosymplanella nigrifasciata , sp. nov. ( Figs 1–3 , 7–21 )

Description. Length (incl. tegmen): 3, 5.0mm, Ƥ, 5.1 mm; Length of tegmen: 3, 4.1mm, Ƥ, 4.3mm.

Coloration. Body brown with pale yellow carinae and dark brown fascia. Vertex with disc dark brown; anterior, posterior and lateral margins brown; eyes black; frons blackish brown, carinae pale yellow, base and apex with pale yellow fascia respectively; clypeus blackish brown, carina pale yellow, base with pale yellow fascia; rostrum brown. Pronotum and mesonotum dark brown, carinae of the latter paler brown. Tegmina subhyaline with broad, brown, transverse band medially. Legs blackish brown, tibiae and tarsi dark brown. Venter and dorsum of abdomen pale yellow, apex dark brown.

Vertex with anterior margin roundly convex, posterior margin a little emarginate, 1.6× wider at apex than long in middle line; frons glossy, with disc slightly convex, median and lateral carinae present, 1.2× longer at mid than width of widest part, 1.5× wider at widest part than width of base; frontoclypeal suture slightly arched; clypeus with median carina. Pronotum narrow and small, anterior margin distinctly convex, posterior concave medially. Mesonotum nearly rhomboid, anterior margin clearly produced medially, with median and lateral carinae, 1.3× wider at widest than medial length. Tegmen 3.5× longer than widest part, venation as figured. Wing large, 0.9 times length of tegmen. Lateral margin of hind tibia with a single tooth; spines at apex of 1–3 hind tarsi: 7–9–2 respectively.

Male genitalia: Anal segment approximately three times as long as medial width in dorsal view ( Fig. 11 ), apical margin smoothly convex with a small finger-like process at mid-ventral side ( Fig.12 ); in lateral view wide basally, tapered to apex distally with ventral margin relatively straight ( Fig. 13 ). Pygofer with laterodorsal angles produced into a spine and small protuberance ( Fig. 14 ). Phallus strongly curved in lateral view, without processes, apex undivided ( Fig. 15 ); aedeagus with lateral margins incurved subapically, apical margin with slight indentation in ventral view ( Fig. 16 ). Genital styles elongate with apex hook-like ( Fig. 18 ).

Female genitalia: anal segment nearly oval in dorsal view ( Fig. 20 ). First valvula small, curved; apical margin with five unequal teeth, lateral margin upturned. Third valvula nearly triangular ( Fig. 21 ). Ninth tergum larger, nearly trapeziform. Seventh sternum with apical margin nearly truncate.

Type material. Holotype 3, Thailand, Chiangmai, 12 May 1992, coll. W. Hongsaprug, on bamboo ( BMNH). Paratypes: Thailand: 13, 1Ƥ, same data as holotype; 13, 1Ƥ, Chiangmai, Phuping, 13 May 1992, W. Hongsaprug ( BMNH); China: 1Ƥ, Yunnan Prov., Mengyang, 10 June 1991, coll. WANG Yinglun and CAI Wanzhi ( NWAFU).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin words “nigra” and “fascia” which refer to the dark band on the forewing.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. External features of Ommatidiotinae. 1 – 3, Pseudosymplanella nigrifasciata (male), 1, dorsal view, 2, lateral view; 3, facial view. 4 – 6, Augilina longipes (male), 4, dorsal view, 5, lateral view, 6, facial view.

FIGURES 7 – 21. Pseudosymplanella nigrifasciata, sp. nov. 7. Head and thorax, dorsal view; 8. Frons and clypeus; 9. Tegmen; 10. Wing; 11. Anal segment, dorsal view; 12. Apex of anal segment, ventral view; 13. Anal segment, lateral view; 14. Pygofer, lateral view; 15. Aedeagus, lateral view; 16. Apex of aedeagus, ventral view; 17. Apex of aedeagus, dorsal view; 18. Genital style, lateral view; 19. Apex of genital style, ventral view; 20. Anal segment, dorsal view; 21. Female genitalia, left side.