Balala nigrifrons Kuoh, 1992

Tang, Jiu & Zhang, Yalin, 2020, Review of the Oriental leafhopper genus Balala Distant, with new species and new records (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Hylicinae), Zootaxa 4731 (1), pp. 23-42 : 26-30

Balala nigrifrons Kuoh, 1992

( Figs. 2 , 3 )

Balala nigrifrons Kuoh 1992: 283 .

Length (including forewing): ♂ 10.86–12.26 mm, ♀ 13.12–14.84 mm.

External morphology. Body brownish yellow to dark brown ( Figs. 2 D–I). Crown ( Fig. 2A ) anterior margin round, length shorter than 1/2 width between eyes. Frontoclypeus and anteclypeus ( Fig. 2B ) usually dark. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum ( Figs. 2 C–I) approaching or even reaching apex of clavus, exposed part of mesonotum about 1/8–1/6 scutellum long, scutellum moderately swollen and gradually declined toward apex, median longitudinal ridge very strong and through entire scutellum. Forewing with one transparent band present between apical cells and appendix. Abdomen with pair of continuous yellow patches on 4th to 6th tergites submedially. Hind femur with 5–6 macrosetae at apex, tibia with ca. 9–11, 12–14 setae in rows AD, PD, respectively.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs. 3 D–I) with dorsal inner margin wavy, subapex of ventral margin with pair of indistinct teeth or slightly angulate or just round, many small short setae arranged along ventral margin; ventral appendage approaching or even reaching apex of pygofer, terminal slightly curved dorsad. Subgenital plate shorter than pygofer side. Apical margin of connective strongly emarginate ( Figs. 3 A–C); style about 1.2x as long as connective; aedeagus shaft tubular with pair of small dorsal horn-like processes on basal part submedially, preatrium about as long as shaft, gonopore at shaft apex.

Female. Sternite VII ( Fig. 12C ) with lateral and middle of posterior margin moderately protruded and “M” shaped, overlapping base of ovipositor. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 12E ) reduced to membrane and folded on top of sternite VII. Pygofer ( Figs. 12 D–F) slightly emarginate dorsoapically rather than deeply bifid, with about 5 stout setae with spine-like setal bases on apical margin, ovipositor not reaching pygofer apex. First valvulae ( Figs. 12D, F, G ) symmetrical and with base bifurcate, dorsal sculpture area densely strigate. Second valvulae ( Figs. 12D, H, I ) blade-like, narrow at base, dorsal margin smooth and with some ducts on distal part, many puncta presented on lateral surface. Third valvulae ( Fig. 12J ) sheath-shaped with many small setae near ventral margin.

Material examined. 1♂ (Holotype), 1♀ (Allotype): Yuhu , Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China, 24.VII.1984, 2750m, Ruiqi Wang ( IZCAS) . 1♂: Lu Mountain , Jiangxi Province, China, 26.VII.1957, Daihe Ying ( NKU) ; 1♂, 2♀: Tianmu Mountain , Zhejiang Province, China, 15–16.VIII.1965, Shengli Liu ( TMNH) ; 2♂: Kunming , Yunnan Prov- ince, China, 3/ 4.VII.1974, 1900m, Yao Zhou and Feng Yuan ( NWAFU) ; 1♂: Lufeng , Chuxiong, Yunnan Province, China, 27.VI.1978 ( NWAFU) ; 1♂: Shiping , Yunnan Province, China, 3.VII. 1979, 800m, Yongjie Liu ( NWAFU) ; 1♂: Ningshan , Shaanxi Province, China, 15.VIII.1984 ( NWAFU) ; 1♂: Liuba County, Shaanxi Province, China, 18.VII.1998, 1020m, Jian Yao ( IZCAS) ; 1♂: Fanjing Mountain , Guizhou Province, China, 29.VII.2001, 1750m, Qiang Sun ( NWAFU) .

Distribution. China.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Balala nigrifrons Kuoh, 1992, ♂: A. Head and pronotum, dorsal view; B. Face; C. Head and thorax, lateral view; D–I. Habitus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 3. Balala nigrifrons Kuoh, 1992, ♂: A. Aedeagus, connective and style, dorsal view; B. Connective and style, ventral view; C. Aedeagus, connective and style, lateral view; D. Pygofer, dorsal view; E. Pygofer, lateral view; F–I. Pygofer, ventral view.

FIGURE 12. Balala nigrifrons Kuoh, 1992, ♀: A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Forewing; C. Sternite VII, ventral view; D. Pygofer, lateral view; E. Pygofer, dorsal view; F. Pygofer, ventral view; G. First valvula; H. Second valvulae; I. Distal half of second valvulae; J. Third valvula.