Balala karenia Tang & Zhang, 2020

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 : 35

Balala karenia Tang & Zhang sp. nov.

( Figs. 9 , 10 )

Length (including forewing): ♂ 10.97 mm.

External morphology. Body dark brown ( Fig. 9A ). Crown ( Fig. 9C ) anterior margin round, length shorter than 1/2 width between eyes. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum ( Figs. 9B, E ) approaching or even reaching apex of clavus, exposed part of mesonotum about 1/8–1/6 scutellum length, scutellum with centre moderately swollen and slowly declining toward apex, median longitudinal ridge very strong and extended entire length of scutellum. Forewing with one transparent band present between apical cells and appendix. Abdomen with pair of continuous yellow patches mainly on 5th and 6th tergites submedially. Hind femur with 5 macrosetae, tibia with ca. 10, 10 setae in rows AD, PD, respectively.

Male genitalia. Pygofer ( Figs. 10 A–E) with dorsal inner margin slightly wavy and a slightly serrate, subapex of ventral margin with pair of indistinct teeth, few small short setae arranged along ventral margin; ventral appendage tapering and nearly reaching apex and curved dorsad, with one small tooth at subapex. Subgenital plate shorter than pygofer side. Apical margin of connective ( Figs. 10 F–I) slightly wavy; style about 1.2x longer than connective; aedeagus shaft tubular with pair of slender processes at apex, pair of small horn-like processes present dorsally on basal part submedially, preatrium broad and about as long as shaft, gonopore between processes at shaft apex.

Material examined. Holotype ♂: Karen Hills , Myanmar, 1911, Doherty ( BMNH).

Etymology. This species is named after its type locality, Karen Hills.

Remarks. This species can be distinguished from other species of Balala by the distinct male genitalia including 1) pygofer ventral appendage with one small preapical tooth and 2) aedeagal shaft with slender furculae at apex.

Figures

FIGURE 9. A–E, Balala karenia Tang & Zhang sp. nov. Holotype ♂:A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Habitus, lateral view; C. Head and pronotum, dorsal view; D. Face; E. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum, dorsal view. F–J, Balala mekongiaTang & Zhang sp. nov. Holotype ♂: F. Exposed part of mesonotum and scutellum, dorsal view; G. Head and pronotum, dorsal view; H. Habitus, dorsal view; I. Habitus, lateral view; J. Face.

FIGURE 10. Balala karenia Tang & Zhang sp. nov. Holotype ♂: A, B. Pygofer, dorsal view; C. Pygofer, ventral view; D, E. Subgenital plate, ventral view; F. Aedeagus, dorsal view; G. Aedeagus, connective and style, dorsal view; H. Aedeagus, lateral view; I. Aedeagus, connective and style, lateral view.