Taperus Li & Wang

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 : 40-41

Taperus Li & Wang

Taperus Li & Wang, 1994: 374

Type species: Taperus fasciatus Li & Wang

Vertex, pronotum and scutellum brown or nearly black, usually with pale brown longitudinal marking along midline of head and scutellum; face white to yellowish brown; forewing dark brown, large pale white or brown patches near costal margin ( Figs 1–10, 16–20 ).

Head ( Figs 1–5, 16–20 ) triangularly produced anteriorly; vertex shorter than pronotum and scutellum together, median longitudinal carina very weak, nearly indistinct; lateral margin carinate, area between median longitudinal carina and submarginal carina not concave, nearly flat; ocellus located on lateral margin, closer to corresponding eye than to apex of vertex. Face ( Figs 11–15 ) including eyes longer than wide; frontoclypeus with median longitudinal carina distinct, laterally obliquely striate; clypellus broad and swollen at base, narrowed apically; gena strongly declivous laterally. Pronotum ( Figs 16–20 ) wider than head, basal area with very weak transverse carina medially; lateral margins carinate and posteriorly divergent; hind margin slightly indented medially. Scutellum ( Figs 16–20 ) triangular, about as long as pronotum, transverse depression distinct. Forewing ( Figs 1–5 , 50–54 ) in repose extending beyond apex of abdomen; venation distinct, with four apical cells, appendix very narrow. Hind femoral macrosetae 2+1+1.

Male pygofer ( Figs 21, 26, 31, 36, 41 ) with ventral process absent, dense rows or groups of stout spinelike macrosetae marginally. Subgenital plate ( Figs 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 ) long and narrow, apex rounded; inner margin with spinelike macrosetae submarginally and marginally, outer margin and apex with many long setae. Style ( Figs 24, 29, 44 ) elongate; basal articulating arm very short; apophysis well developed; footlike apical process with several setae laterally and elongate lateral angle. Connective Y-shaped, stem very long. Aedeagus ( Figs 22–23, 27–28, 32– 33, 36–37, 41–42 ) well developed; shaft with lateral lamellate process on both sides; dorsal apodeme developed basally; apex of aedeagus curved dorsad in lateral view; gonopore apical.

Female slightly longer than male. Ovipositor exceeds apex of pygofer. First valvula with longitudinal striations extending over distal half ( Figs 48–49 ). Second valvula with blade-like area extending over distal half; dorsal sclerotized and hyaline areas present; dorsal margin with prominent rounded teeth on distal half ( Figs 46–47 ).

Remarks. The genus Taperus is most similar to Onukia Matsumura. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics: 1) median longitudinal carina of vertex very weak, nearly indistinct; 2) area between median carina and submarginal carina of vertex nearly flat rather than concave; 3) male pygofer with rows or groups of stout spinelike macrosetae marginally.

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 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.

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.