Malaxella Ding & Hu

Qin, Dao-Zheng & Zhang, Ya-Lin, 2009, A revision of Malaxella Ding & Hu (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 2208, pp. 44-50 : 44-45

Malaxella Ding & Hu

Malaxella Ding & Hu in Ding et al., 1986: 419

Type species. Malaxella flava Ding & Hu , in Ding et al. 1986. by original designation Redescription. Small-sized, yellow to orange delphacids, length of male 1.8–2.2 mm, female 2.1–2.5 mm.

Head including eyes distinctly narrower than pronotum ( Figs 1 , 13 ). Vertex quadrate, slightly shorter in midline than broad at base, submedian carinae originating near middle of lateral carinae, percurrent and uniting at apex, in dorsal view lateral carinae of vertex concave, expanded anteriad and behind eyes ( Figs 1 , 13 ), in lateral view meeting lateral carinae of frons with obtuse angle at fastigium ( Figs 3 , 15 ). Y-shaped carina with common stem absent. Frons relatively long, slightly expanded just above the ocelli, longer in midline than wide at widest part (2.15–2.64: 1) ( Figs 2 , 14 ). Antennae cylindrical, very long, reaching or surpassing apex of clypeus, segment I longer than wide at apex (2.1–2.7: 1), shorter than segment II (0.30– 0.33: 1) ( Figs 2 , 14 ). Pronotum nearly equal to median length of vertex, lateral carinae not reaching posterior margin ( Figs 1 , 13 ). Mesonotum medially longer than vertex and pronotum together (0.56–0.64: 1) ( Figs 1 , 13 ). Tegmina elongate, much longer than abdomen, apical margin rounded ( Figs 4 , 16 ). Spinal formula of hind leg 5-6-4. Post-tibial spur large and thick, concave on inner suface, without teeth on interior margin but with a small apical tooth.

Male genitalia with opening of pygofer asymmetrical, bearing spine-like processes on ventral margin ( Figs 5 , 17 ). Diaphragm membranous ( Figs 5 , 17 ). Parameres long, asymmetrical ( Figs 5 , 17 ). Aedeagus tubular, curved ( Figs 12 , 22 ), gonopore large ( Figs 9 , 21 ). Suspensorium fused with the aedeagus near its base ( Figs 9 , 21 ). Male anal segment ring-like, left laterodistal angle strongly produced ventrocaudad into a stout processes, basally bearing a cluster of hair-like setae ( Figs 5 , 17 ).

Remarks. Both the genera Malaxella and Malaxa Melichar, 1913 are similar ( Ding & Hu, 1986; Chen et al., 2006) in having quadrate vertex ( Figs 1 , 13 ), long antennae ( Figs 2 , 14 ), pronotum with lateral carinae not attaining hind margin ( Figs 1 , 13 ), male pygofer having ventral processes, tubular aedeagus and the anal segment strongly produced at left laterodistal angle. However, Malaxella differs from Malaxa in the following combination of characters: in Malaxella the general body color is yellow to orange (often with blackish brown markings in Malaxa ); the submedian carinae of vertex percurrent and uniting at apex (uniting before apex of vertex in Malaxa ), lateral carinae of vertex distinctly expanded anteriad (nearly parallel or slightly convergent anteriad in Malaxa ); frons with lateral carinae widest at eyes (lateral carinae nearly parallel or widest at apex in Malaxa ); the asymmetrical opening of pygofer, processes on the ventral margin and parameres (all of them symmetrical in Malaxa ); parameres simple (forked or with apical process at apex in Malaxa ); a cluster of hairlike setae at the base of the left laterodistal process of male anal segment (bare in Malaxa ).

Distribution. Species of Malaxella are currently known only from southern China (Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong and Guangxi).

Key to species of Malaxella (male)

1 Male pygofer with 2 spine-like processes on ventral margin; gonopore of aedeagus subbasal ( Fig. 9 )............................ ........................................................................................................................................................ M. flava Ding & Hu

- Male pygofer with 4 spine-like processes on ventral margin; gonopore of aedeagus subapical ( Fig. 21 ) ........................ ...................................................................................................................................................... M. tetracantha n. sp.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Malaxella flava Ding & Hu. 1, head and thorax, dorsal view; 2, frons and postclypeus; 3, head and pronotum, left lateral view; 4, right tegmen, macropterous male; 5, male genitalia, caudal view; 6, same, left lateral view; 7, anal segment, suspensorium and aedeagus complex, caudal view; 8, same, left lateral view; 9, suspensorium and aedeagus complex, caudal view; 10, anal segment, right lateral view; 11, parameres, left lateral view; 12, aedeagus, left lateral view.

FIGURES 13 – 22. Malaxella tetracantha n. sp., 13, head and thorax, dorsal view; 14, frons and postclypeus; 15, head and pronotum, left lateral view; 16, right tegmen, macropterous male; 17, male genitalia, caudal view; 18, same, left lateral view; 19, anal segment, suspensorium and aedeagus complex and parameres, left lateral view; 20, anal segment, right lateral view; 21, suspensorium and aedeagus complex, caudal view; 22, same, left lateral view.