Herbiflata saxeta, Peng, Lingfei, Fletcher, Murray & Zhang, Yalin, 2016

Peng, Lingfei, Fletcher, Murray & Zhang, Yalin, 2016, A new genus in the family Flatidae with one new combination and three new species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha), Zootaxa 4117 (2), pp. 265-276 : 274

Herbiflata saxeta sp. nov.

( Figs 2 C, G, K, O; 6A–J)

Etymology. This specific epithet is derived from the Latin word “saxum” (feminine: saxa), which means a rocky place. This name refers to the locality of Mt. Emei, which is a rocky place.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles H. chromata sp. nov. but differs by the following characters: anal tube with apex more acute than in H. chromata sp. nov.; aedeagus without any ear-like lateral lobe near ventral apex ( Fig. 6 F).

Description. Size. Body length about 7.9–8.5 mm.

Coloration. Overall color pale grey or pale green ( Fig. 2 C); eyes fuscous; ocelli very pale white; tibia and tarsus slightly darker; tegmina pale grey.

Head. Head ( Figs 2 G, 6A) short in dorsal view, about 3.5 times broader than long, anterior margin distinctly obtusely pointed, lateral margins ridged. Vertex ( Figs 2 G, 6A) very short in the middle, anterior margin truncate, partly concealed beneath anterior margin of pronotum. Frons ( Figs 2 K, 6B–C) convex, as wide as long, lateral margin convex, strongly carinate, with median longitudinal carina half length of frons or slightly longer. Clypeus ( Figs 2 K, 6C) convex medially. Rostrum long, extending to meta-trochanter. Antennal segment I ring-like, segment II about four times longer than segment I.

Thorax. Pronotum ( Figs 2 G, 6A): anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Mesonotum ( Figs 2 G, 6A) with three obscure longitudinal carinae. Metatibia with seven spines apically, basal metatarsal segment with seven spines apically.

Tegmen ( Figs 2 C, 6D) length about 7.2–7.5 mm, width between costal margin and apex of clavus 3.7–3.8 mm; costal margin convex, apical margin rounded to apex of clavus; postclaval sutural margin convex; costal membrane about 1.3 times wider than costal cell at the level of bulla; costal cell with two veinlets near apical portion; ScP+R stem short, ScP+RA not forked, RP forked slightly after bulla; MP forked apicad of RP forking, branch MP1+2 short, forked slightly apicad of MP forking, MP3+4 forked apicad of MP1+2 forking; CuA forked slightly apicad of M forking, CuA1 and CuA2 not forked and subparallel, CuP about 3/5 length of tegmen, Pcu and A1 fused in apical portion of clavus; m-cua present after branch of CuA.

Male terminalia. Male anal tube ( Fig. 6 E) slightly bent down, ventral margin inflated medially, apex acute; anus positioned at midlength of anal tube. Pygofer ( Fig. 6 E) ring-like, anterior margin sinuate, posterior margin slightly convex, ventral margin much longer than dorsal margin, dorsocaudal angle pointed. Genital style ( Fig. 6 E) elongate, capitulum triangular, ventro-posterior angle widely rounded. Phallic complex ( Fig. 6 E) arched; periandrium ( Fig. 6 G) tubular, dorsal part membranous, dorsolateral emargination narrow; lateral lobe with long process oriented ventrad, lateral emargination deeply concave, apex of ventral part pointed. Aedeagus ( Fig. 6 F) bipartite, dorsal part of apex with wide cephalad process, lateral portion with sharply raised carina, small hooked process beneath wide process, ventral part of apex not pointed, with process oriented dorsad.

Female terminalia. Female anal segment ( Figs 6 H, 6J) nearly oblong in dorsal view, lateral margins subparallel, apical margin convex; anal pore situated at middle, paraproct very short, about 0.15 times as long as anal segment. Gonoplac ( Fig. 6 H) in lateral view rounded apically, dorsal margin angularly concave medially, ventral margin oblique; discof gonoplac flat, bearing several rows of small teeth in upper part; posterior margin with small teeth in upper part and large, stout teeth in lower part. Gonapophysis IX small, lateral field flat, apex cuspidal in lateral view ( Fig. 6 H). Endogonocoxal process short and narrowly foliate ( Fig. 6 H). Anterior connective laminae of gonapophysis VIII broad basally, tapering apicad, with three teeth at apex ( Fig. 6 H). Sternum VII with posterior margin wholly strongly concave but weakly arcuately convex at middle ( Fig. 6 I).

Type material. Holotype, ♂, Qingyinge, Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China, 800–1000 m, 14.vii.1957, Huang Keren ( IZCAS); Paratypes: 1♂, Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China, 28.vi.1955, Huang Keren ( IZCAS); 1♀, Baoguosi, Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China, 550–750 m, 17.vi.1957, Zhu Fuxing ( IZCAS); 1♂, Baoguosi, Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China, 600 m, 25.vi.1957, Zhu Fuxing ( IZCAS); 2♀♀, Jiulaodong, Mt. Leshan, Sichuan Province, China, 3.vii.1957 ( NWAFU); 1♂, 5♀♀, Mt. Emei, Sichuan Province, China, 15.viii.1975 ( NWAFU).

Distribution. China (Sichuan) ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographical distribution of Herbiflata species in China.

FIGURE 2. Herbiflata species. (A – C) left lateral view; (D) tegmen; (E – H) head and thorax, dorsal view; (I – L) head, frontal view; (M – P) head and thorax, left lateral view; (A, E, I, M) H. chromata sp. nov.; (B, F, J, N) H. sacra sp. nov.; (C, G, K, O) H. saxeta sp. nov.; (D, H, L, P) H. xizangensis. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Herbiflata saxeta sp. nov. (A) head and thorax, dorsal view; (B) head, frontal view; (C) head and thorax, left lateral view; (D) tegmen; (E) male terminalia, left lateral view; (F) aedeagus, left lateral view; (G) periandrium, left lateral view; (H) female terminalia, left lateral view; (I) female genitalia, ventral view; (J) female anal segment, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1 mm.