Ficiana Ghauri

Xu, Ye, Suo, Hui-feng & Qin, Dao-zheng, 2015, Revision of the genus Ficiana Ghauri and its relationship to other genera in Empoascini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), ZooKeys 541, pp. 71-78 : 72-73

Taxon classification Animalia Hemiptera Cicadellidae

Genus Ficiana Ghauri

Ficiana Ghauri, 1963: 472.

Type species.

Ficiana pruthii Ghauri, 1963, by original designation.

Description.

Body robust. Head including eyes broader than maximum width of pronotum in dorsal aspect (Figs 1, 3). Crown short and broad, rounded anteriorly, anterior and posterior margins subparallel, middle length shorter than width between eyes (Figs 1, 3). Coronal suture distinct, extended onto face and terminating at level of antennal bases (Figs 1, 3, 4), transition of vertex to face rounded in profile (Fig. 2). Face broad, lateral frontal sutures convergent towards base (Fig. 4). Ocelli on margin about equidistant between eye and midline (Figs 1, 3, 4). Pronotum large with sinuate transverse depression (Figs 1-3). Scutellum with median depression. Forewing narrow, apical cells occupying nearly one-third of total length, all three apical veins arise from longitudinal m cell, veins RP, MP’ confluent for short distance pre-apically, 2nd apical cell with margins almost parallel apically (Fig. 8). Hindwing with CuA unbranched (Fig. 9). Front femur with dorsoapical pair of macrosetae, AM1 enlarged and situated on ventral margin, intercalary row with one large basal setae and eight smaller setae more distal. Hind femur macrosetae 2+1+1, row AV with 11 macrosetae near apex.

Male abdominal apodemes developed, parallel sided (Fig. 7). Pygofer short, terminally bearing rigid microsetae on each side of lobe, ventral appendage absent, dorsal bridge short (Figs 5, 6, 11, 12). Subgenital plates large and fused throughout almost in whole length except apices, A-group setae absent, B-group setae small and rigid, C-group setae sharply terminated, D-group setae not numerous (Figs 5, 6, 10, 18). Paramere short and robust, setae and sensory pits absent (Figs 5, 6, 10, 17). Connective subtrapezoidal, closely related to aedeagus (Figs 14-16). Aedeagal shaft tubular, ventro-basally produced, dorsoatrium developed (Figs 14, 15). Anal tube appendage distinct (Figs 5, 10, 13).

Remarks.

The original illustrations of the type species made the male genital diagnosis of this genus hard to understand, especially the configuration of the aedeagus. Based on our additional new findings, it has a median sulcus of frons (Fig. 4); all apical veins in forewing arising from longitudinal m cell, vein CuA in hind wing unbranched (Figs 8, 9); ventral pygofer appendage absent (Figs 5, 10, 11); subgenital plates large and fused throughout almost in whole length (Fig. 18); and anal tube appendage present (Figs 5, 10, 13). All of these characters ensure the new species fit the definition of Ficiana Ghauri (1963) and it is described here.

Ghauri (1963) noted the aedeagus was "with three pairs of elaborate appendages, as shown in the figure". However, the figures provided by Ghauri 1963 (Figs L, K) made the characters of aedeagus rather confused. After checking the genital characters of the new Ficiana species (specimens deposited in NWAFU), and also Fig. L in Ghauri’s illustrations, we believe that Fig. K (aedeagus, in lateral view) was positioned upside down. Moreover, the specimens in NWAFU show the aedeagus with only two pairs of processes [one pair near middle of ventro-basal protrusion and another pair at dorso-basal prolongation of dorsoatrium (latero-distally extended to base of anal tube)] (Figs 14, 15). This paper further defines this genus by including more morphological and revised genital characters.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi), India.

Key to species of the genus Ficiana Ghauri (males)