Aconurella paradiplachnis, Duan, Yani & Zhang, Yalin, 2012

Duan, Yani & Zhang, Yalin, 2012, A taxonomic review of the grassland leafhopper genus Aconurella Ribaut (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) from China with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 3397, pp. 28-44 : 37-40

Aconurella paradiplachnis sp. n.

( Figure 6 , Plate V)

Length. Male: 3.1–3.2mm; female: 3.7–3.9mm.

Dark brown (Plate V: A). Vertex light straw-colored with dark small spot on anterior margin and often also with 2 lateral spots fusing with darkening of frontoclypeus, middle and posterior part of vertex with dark brown markings or completely dark brown (Plate V: A). Frontoclypeus usually completely darkened (Plate V: B). Pronotum light straw with dark brown markings or completely darkened (Plate V: A). Forewing dark brown, costal margin pale yellow (Plate V: A). Forewing macropterous (Plate V: A).

Male genitalia. The darkly sclerotized part of pygofer side on posteroventral margin more than half its length, with 3–5 long spines, the spines restricted to the distal half of the dark area, dorsoapical margin with many spinules ( Figs 6 A, 6B); connective with arms close together distally ( Fig. 6 E); aedeagus shaft gently curved dorsally ( Fig. 6 F).

Female. Sternite VII well-produced in middle (Plate V: C).

Material examined. Holotype: 3, China, Sichuan Prov., Batang County, Zhubalong, 2450m, 10.vii.2001, at light ( NWAFU). Paratypes: China: Guangxi Autonomous Region: 13, Dayao Mountain, 12.ix.2000, coll. Liu Zhenjiang ( NWAFU); Sichuan Prov.: 2Ƥ, same data as holotype ( NWAFU); 13, Batang County, Zhubalong, 3000m, 11.vii.2001 ( NWAFU); 43, Batang County, Zhubalong, 2550m, 12.vii.2001 ( NWAFU); 13, Xiangcheng County, Qingbala Town, 2800m, 09.vi.2007, coll. Wei Cong ( NWAFU); Yunnan Prov.: 13, Deqing County, 20.vii.2005, coll. Lu Lin ( NWAFU). (All collected by Sun Qiang except where indicated)

Remarks. This species is similar to A. diplachnis , but can be distinguished by: 1) forewing dark brown with costal margin pale yellow (Plate V: A); 2) the spines of the sclerortised area of the male pygofer are restricted to the distal half ( Fig. 6 B).

Etymology. The specific epithet indicates the similarity of this species to A. diplachnis .

PLATE IV. Aconurella diplachnis Emeljanov. A –C: habitus, dorsal view; D–F: head and thorax, dorsal view; G: face; H: habitus, lateral view; I: the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

PLATE V. Aconurella paradiplachnis sp. n. A: habitus, dorsal view; B: habitus, lateral view; C: sternite VII, ventral view.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Aconurella paradiplachnis sp. n. A: male pygofer side, lateral view; B: the darkly sclerotized part of male pygofer side; C: subgenital plate, ventral view; D: style, dorsal view; E: connective, dorsal view; F: aedeagus, lateral view.