Varicopsella cornifera, Wang & Zhang, 2024

Wang, Dongming & Zhang, Yalin, 2024, Taxonomy of the leafhopper genus Varicopsella (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Eurymelinae: Macropsini) with description of a new species from Thailand, Zootaxa 5506 (2), pp. 295-300 : 297

Varicopsella cornifera sp. nov.

( Figs. 1. A–H , 2. A–I )

Measurement. Length. ♂ 4.0– 4.1 mm, ♀ 4.1 mm.

Coloration. Crown, pronotum and scutellum yellowish, marked with brown spots and lines ( Figs. 1C, G ). Face pale yellowish; eyes grey; ocelli white ( Figs. 1D, H ). Forewing subhyaline, with dense small irregular dark brown spots ( Figs. 1A, B, E, F ). Female colour similar to male ( Figs. 1E–H ).

Morphology. External characters as in generic description.

Male genitalia. Pygofer broad, with 2 spinelike distal processes on inner surface of lobe. Subgenital plate slender, with scattered setae, dorsal setae longest ( Fig. 2A ). Dorsal connectives divided into two sections, upper part broad basally and caudally directed ventrally, apex of ventral part acute in lateral view ( Figs. 2G, H ). Connective small, with fingerlike protrusion in middle between dorsally bent anterior arms ( Figs. 2E, F ). Style slender, with sparse row of fine setae dorsolaterally, apex abruptly tapered and upturned ( Fig. 2I ). Aedeagal shaft tubular, bent dorsally and evenly tapered to acute apex, with atrium broadened near base and shaft slightly tapered toward rounded apex in posterior view, dorsal apodeme and preatrium developed, gonopore apical ( Fig. 2B, C ).

Material examined. Holotype ♂ ( QSBG), THAILAND, Suphanburi, Phu Toei NP Pinus merkusii Jungh Forest , 14°58.4′N, 99°26.017′E, 763m, Malaise Trap, 8–15 vii 2008, coll. Saunbua L. Paratypes: 1♂ ( INHS), same data as holotype ; 1♀ ( INHS), THAILAND, Chaiyaphum, Tat Tone NP, 15°57.24′N, 101°54.08′E, 271m, 12–19 iv 2007, coll. Tawit Jaruphan.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles V. elegans Viraktamath in the structure of the pygofer, but can be distinguished from the latter by the dorsal connective upper part with dorsal preapical process.

Etymology. This specific epithet is from the Latin word “ corneus ” referring to the hornlike apex of the dorsal connective.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Varicopsella cornifera sp. nov.. A, E. habitus, dorsal view; B, F. habitus, lateral view; C, G. head and pronotum, dorsal view; D, H. face; A–D, male; E–H, female.

FIGURE 2. Varicopsella cornifera sp. nov. A, male genital capsule, lateral view; B–C, aedeagus, ventral and lateral view; D, pygofer processes on ventral margin; E–F, connective, lateral and ventral view; G–H, dorsal connective, caudal and lateral view; I. style, lateral view.