Taperus flavifrons (Matsumura) Matsumura, 2010

Zhang, Xinmin, Zhang, Yalin & Wei, Cong, 2010, Review of the leafhopper genus Taperus Li & Wang (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae) from China, with description of three new species, Zootaxa 2721, pp. 39-46 : 45

Taperus flavifrons (Matsumura) , comb. n.

( Figs 3, 8, 13, 18 , 31–35 , 52 )

Onukia flavifrons Matsumura, 1912: 45 ; Kato, 1933: 20

Measurements. ɗ: body length: 5.5–5.6 mm; head width (incl. eyes): 1.1–1.2 mm; head length: 0.6–0.7 mm. Ψ: body length: 5.8 mm; head width (incl. eyes): 1.2 mm; head length: 0.7 mm.

Vertex, pronotum and scutellum ( Figs 3, 18 ) blackish brown, with yellowish brown longitudinal band extending from apex of vertex to posterior margin of scutellum medially; face yellow ( Fig. 13 ). Forewing ( Fig. 52 ) with yellow patch on costal area and whitish patch in fourth apical cell. Legs yellow.

Male pygofer ( Fig. 31 ) broad at base, slightly narrowed posteriorly with apex somewhat truncate in lateral view, macrosetae near dorsal and posterior margins very long. Apex of footlike apical process of style short and robust, about one sixth length of style ( Fig. 34 ). Aedeagal shaft ( Figs 32–33 ) with posterior margin concave medially; apex long and slender, extending distinctly beyond dorsal area of lamellate lateral process of aedeagus.

Material examined. China, Hainan Prov.: 2ɗɗ ( NWAFU), Ledong County, 940m, 6-June-2006, coll. Duan Yani; 1 Ψ ( NWAFU), Lingshui County, Diaoluoshan, 2-June-2007, coll. Duan Yani.

Distribution. China ( Taiwan, Hainan).

Remarks. This species was first described by Matsumura as Onukia flavifrons Matsumura, 1912 . However, several characteristics of this species are different from other known species of Onukia , i.e., the nearly flat vertex, the absence of process on the male pygofer and the long macrosetae on the posterior margin of the male pygofer. Herein, we transfer this species to Taperus . It can be distinguished from other species of Taperus by the prominent yellow plaque on the costal area of forewing and the very long and slender apex of the aedeagus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 20. Dosal and lateral habitus and face. 1, 6, 11, 16: T. bannaensis sp. n.; 2, 7, 12, 17: T. fasciatus Li & Wang; 3, 8, 13, 18: T. flavifrons (Matsumura) comb. n.; 4, 9, 14, 19: T. quadragulatus sp. n.; 5, 10, 15, 20: T. luchunensis sp. n.

FIGURES 21 – 45. Male genitalia. 21 – 25: T. bannaensis sp. n.; 26 – 30: T. fasciatus Li & Wang; 31 – 35: T. flavifrons (Matsumura) comb. n.; 36 – 40: quadragulatus sp. n.; 41 – 45: T. luchunensis sp. n.; 21, 26, 31, 36, 41: male pygofer, lateral view; 22, 27, 32, 37, 42: aedeagus, lateral view; 23, 28, 33, 38, 43: aedeagus, ventral view; 24, 29, 34, 39, 44: connective and style, dorsal view; 25, 30, 35, 40, 45: subgenital plate, ventral view.

FIGURES 46 – 54. Ovipositor and forewing. 46 – 47: T. fasciatus Li & Wang, second valvulae and apex of second valvulae respectively, lateral view; 48 – 49: first valvulae and apex of first valvulae respectively, laterior view; 50: T. bannaensis sp. n.; 51: T. fasciatus Li & Wang; 52: T. flavifrons (Matsumura) comb. n.; 53: T. quadragulatus sp. n.; 54: T. luchunensis sp. n.