Asymmetrasca helica, Liu and Zhang

Liu, Yang, Fletcher, Murray J., Dietrich, Christopher H. & Zhang, Ya-Lin, 2014, New species and records of Asymmetrasca (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae: Empoascini) from China and name changes in Empoasca (Matsumurasca), Zootaxa 3768 (3), pp. 327-350 : 331-333

Asymmetrasca helica, Liu and Zhang , sp. nov.

( Figs 21–29 , 94–97 )

Type materials. China: holotype ♂, Zhejiang Prov.: Mt. Tianmu, 8.viii.2007, coll. Xinmin Zhang; paratypes: 2♂♂, same data as holotype. All in NWAFU.

Length: ♂ 3.2 mm–3.3 mm.

General color of body yellow-greenish ( Fig. 97 ). Crown yellowish, with some obvious green markings on each side of coronal suture ( Fig. 94 ). Eyes black. Pronotum broad, with irregular patches of cream-yellowish on anterior margin. Scutoscutellar sulcus beige. Lateral parts of scutellum with cream-yellowish triangular spots. Forewing and hind wing semitransparent. Abdomen yellow. Legs pale yellow to yellow ( Fig. 96 ).

Ventral abdominal apodemes subparallel-sided, reaching segment 5 ( Fig. 23 ). Male pygofer in lateral view slightly narrowing caudad ( Fig. 21 ); pygofer appendage slightly curved along margin of lobe in lateral view ( Fig. 22 ). Anal hook well-developed, papillose apically ( Fig. 26 ). Subgenital plate with ventral margin curved dorsally in nearly half apical part, sinuate, with numerous macrosetae and fine setae somewhat irregularly arranged; setal group A with 3 stout setae; group B with 17–23 short microsetae, group C with three rows of macrosetae, group D arranged irregularly, lateral side with some slim setae ( Fig. 29 ). Paramere long, subapically curved, dentifer with 5 teeth, 4–6 setae present subapically ( Fig. 28 ). Connective broad, with posterior margin shallowly emarginate medially ( Fig. 27 ). Aedeagus with preatrium nearly as long as shaft, slightly sinuate in lateral view; dorsal apodeme nearly as long as preatrium; shaft nearly straight, without dorsal denticuli; distal process elongate, slender, strongly and evenly curved throughout length, forming semicircle in posterior view; apex slender, without teeth ( Figs 24, 25 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Greek word " helix " meaning "curl" and refers to the strongly curved aedeagal appendage.

Diagnosis. This species is similar to A. kaicola Dworakowska, 1982 , but differs from the latter in having the aedeagal shaft straight and the apical process evenly curved and tapered distally.

Figures

FIGURES 21 – 29. Asymmetrasca helica, 21, male pygofer, lateral view; 22, pygofer appendage; 23, abdominal apodemes; 24, aedeagus, ventral view; 25, aedeagus, lateral view; 26, anal tube appendage; 27, connective; 28, paramere; 29, subgenital plate.

FIGURES 94 – 97. Asymmetrasca helica, 94, head and thorax, dorsal view; 95, face; 96, whole body, lateral view; 97, whole body, dorsal view.