Neuterthron platynotum, Qin, Dao-Zheng, 2007

Qin, Dao-Zheng, 2007, Two new species of the Chinese endemic delphacid genus Neuterthron Ding (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from Yunnan and Shaanxi Provinces, Zootaxa 1547, pp. 59-64 : 60-62

Neuterthron platynotum n. sp.

( Figs. 1–13 )

Type material. Holotype, male (brachypterous): Tengchong, Yunnan Province, China, 18.viii.2005, coll. Meixia Yang. Paratypes, 4 males (brachypterous): same data as holotype ( NWAFU).

Description. Color. Vertex, face, antennae and legs yellowish-brown. Eyes, genae, wings and abdomen dark. Dorsum and venter of male abdomen furnished with irregular sordid patches laterally on each segment. Some specimens with abdominal mid-dorsum paler. Fore- and midfemora black. Brachypterous forewings dark and lustrous, speckled with pale flecks. Male pygofer black, slightly paler dorsally.

Structure. Body length (brachypterous male) 1.96–2.06, width at tegulae 0.65–0.74. Head including eyes narrower than pronotum (0.92:1), vertex slightly shorter medially (0.21–0.22) than wide at base (0.23–0.26), anteriorly transverse, slightly produced medially, lateral carinae subparallel except where expanded behind eyes, in lateral view meeting lateral carinae of frons with obtuse angle at fastigium, basal compartment wider at base than greatest length about 2.4:1. Frons longer (0.45–0.50) than wide (0.23–0.25), lateral carinae slightly convex. Postclypeus wider at base than frons at apex, post- and anteclypeus together approximately 0.6x length of frons, median carina well defined. Rostrum reaching past mesotrochanters. Antennal segments terete, surpassing frontoclypeal suture, segment II longer (0.24–0.26) than I (0.10–0.11). Pronotum medially slightly shorter than vertex, lateral carinae slightly curved, diverging towards but not reaching posterior margin, pronotum width 0.63–0.68, length 0.18–0.21. Mesonotum longer (0.31–0.32) than vertex and pronotum respectively, lateral carinae slightly diverging caudad and extending to posterior margin, median carina obscure apically. Forewing in brachypterous form not attaining the end of abdomen, length 0.96–1.09. Metatibiae ca. 1.3 times longer than metatarsi together, metabasitarsus (0.35–0.41) slightly longer than tarsomere 2 (0.14–0.15) + 3 (0.16–0.17) combined, spinulation of metabasitarsus 7 (2+5), 2nd 4. Calcar (0.27–0.30) slightly shorter than metabasitarsus, thickly foliate, tectiform, with 18–21 small, black-tipped teeth on lateral margin.

Drumming organ with apodemes of second sternite elongate and dorsally directed, nearly attaining tergites.

Male genitalia. Pygofer in caudal aspect rounded, in lateral view laterodorsal angle strongly produced and inflected ventrad, apices rounded, Diaphragm of pygofer with dorsal margin incised medially, ventrocaudally prolonged into a long process that far surpasses posterior margin of pygofer in lateral view, widening basally and then tapering to upcurved and acuminate apex. Parameres stout and broad, moderately diverging from caudal view, subapical process on inner margin with a medially concave apex. Aedeagus tubular with 4 distally acuminate teeth, largest arising dorsally near middle portion, other 3 teeth originating on left side (1 large, 2 smaller); subapex slightly narrowed and reflexed, apex rounded, phallotreme dorsally at apex. Opening of diaphragm for parameres large, dorsal margin slightly concave medially, lateral margins sinuate, ventral margin slightly arched upward. Suspensorium ventrally ring-like embracing the base of aedeagus and connecting at ventral side, dorsally broad and concave medially. Anal segment deeply sunk in dorsal emargination of pygofer, caudoventral margin slightly produced on each side, without spinose process.

Female unknown.

Macropterous form. Unknown.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin word “ platynotus ” (broad) which refers to the broad parameres.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Yunnan (S.W. China).

Remarks and Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Neuterthron by the following combination of characters: anal segment deep sunk in emargination of pygofer; pygofer with laterodorsal angles strongly produced and inflected ventrally; diaphragm ventrocaudally produced; aedeagus tubular and ornamented with teeth; Suspensorium ring-like. Neuterthron platynotum n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by lacking the longitudinal yellowish-white stripe across the vertex and the middle portion of pro- and mesonotum; parameres rather broad, subapex with a process, apex rounded rather than hook-shaped or sharp pointed; caudoventral margin of anal segment slightly produced, without spinose process.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 13. Neuterthron platynotum n. sp., 1, head and thorax, dorsal view; 2, face; 3, head and pronotum, left lateral view; 4, left forewing; 5, male genitalia, caudal view; 6, same, left lateral view; 7, pygofer, caudal view, anal segment and parameres removed; 8, same, left lateral view; 9, anal segment, aedeagal complex and parameres, left lateral view; 10, aedeagus, dorsal view; 11, parameres, caudal view; 12, anal segment, caudal view; 13, suspensorium, caudal view.