Ceratocranus aurantius, Fujinuma & Hayashi, 2025

Fujinuma, Satoshi & Hayashi, Masami, 2025, Taxonomic revision of Japanese Stenocranus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae), Zootaxa 5706 (3), pp. 301-336 : 331-332

Ceratocranus aurantius sp. nov.

[Japanese name: Kisuji-taiwan-naga-unka]

( Figs 3 , 7–10 , 14 )

Holotype: ♂ ( ELKU), Isahaya reclamation area, Isahaya , Nagasaki Pref., 22. IX. 2022, T. Nozaki . Paratypes: [ Honshu] 1♀ ( MH), Tachiyazawa, Shonai , Yamagata Pref., 18. IX. 2010 , M. Hayashi et al.; 7♂ ( ELKU), Kuwadori, Joetsu, Niigata Pref., 17. IX. 2023 , S. Fujinuma; 4♂ 8♀ ( ELKU), same data except 11. IX. 2007 ; 2♂ 3♀ ( ELKU), Yodo Riv., Oyodokita, Kita , Osaka, Osaka Pref., 20–22. XI. 2013 , T. Ban & N. Inahata ; 1♀ ( MH), Gônokawa Riv., Shimane Pref., 12. VIII. 1999 , S. Nakamura; [ Shikoku ] 1♂ ( ELKU), Sozu Riv., Ainan , Ehime Pref., 1. VI. 2016 . N. Inahata; [ Kyushu ] 5♂ 1♀ ( ELKU), same data as holotype except 24. V. 2022 ; 1♂ 7♀ ( ELKU), same data as holotype ; 1♀ ( ELKU), Ikeda, Oniki, Amakusa , Kumamoto Pref., 9. VIII. 2015 , T. Nozaki; 3♂ 1♀ ( ELKU), Nagara, Saiki , Oita Pref., 31. VII. 2024 , T. Nozaki; [ Tsushima Is. ] 5♀ ( MH), Tanohama, Kami-agata , 23. X. 2000 , M. Hayashi et al.; [ Hirado Is. ] 1♀ ( ELKU), Kota Riv. (estuary), 20. VIII. 2017 , T. Nozaki; [ Okinawa Is. ] 8♂ 8♀ ( ELKU), Kanna Dam, Ginoza , 12. V. 2013 , S. Fujinuma; [ Iriomote Is. ] 10♂ 10♀ ( ELKU), Toyohara , 7–8. IX. 2012 , S. Fujinuma.

Description. General coloration stramineous, tinged with orange. Frons with distinct dark stripes; sometimes orange stripes along lateral carinae. Genae slightly darker. Mid-dorsal parts of vertex, pronotum, and mesonotum paler, fringed with orange stripes. Pronotum and mesonotum with orange stripes along lateral margins. Forewings with veins paler, except parts of apical veins darker; dark markings on apices of apical veins. Legs mostly without dark stripes. Male pygofer yellowish stramineous.

Vertex about 1.7× as long as wide. Frons about 3.0× as long as wide; median carina forked in apical 1/3. Antennal segment II about 4.3× as long as wide. Pronotum about 0.8× as long as vertex; mesonotum about 2.2× as long as pronotum. Forewing venation: ScP, RA, and RP unbranched, MP 3-branched, CuA 3-branched. Hind leg spinulation: tibia 5 (2+3), basitarsus 7 (2+5), second tarsomere 5. Post-tibial spur with 16–20 fine teeth.

Body length (mean): ♂ 4.4–5.5 mm (5.0 mm); ♀ 5.4–6.5 ( 6.1 mm).

Male genitalia: Pygofer rectangular in lateral view; strongly produced caudad in dorsal half of caudal margin; oval in caudal view; diaphragm broad, weakly concave dorsomedially. Suspensorium with small process on left dorsal part. Gonostyles very broad in widest view, widened subapically; basal angles with two small protrusions at corner. Phallotheca broad in lateral view, ridged ventrally; opening on right side; left part elongated, dorsoventrally flattened, with two processes: dorsal process long, falcate, downcurved to right; ventral process long, produced caudad. Anal tube rectangular in lateral view, distinctly widened in apical half; ventral margin with one pair of short processes near midlength. Female genitalia: Gonapophyses VIII, IX, and gonoplacs as in generic description; gonapophyses IX with 15–20 teeth on dorsal margin.

Distribution. Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Tsushima Is., Hirado Is., Okinawa Is., Iriomote Is.).

Remarks. This species is similar to C. agamopsyche (Kirkaldy) in habitus and structure but differs in the following features: lateral sides of pronotum and mesonotum pale (with dark stripes in C. agamopsyche ), genae slightly darker (mostly darker in C. agamopsyche ), gonostyles with two small protrusions on corner of basal angle (with a long and flat process in C. agamopsyche ). Nymphs are generally yellowish stramineous, with a whitish vitta on the dorsum fringed with orange stripes (dark stripes in C. agamopsyche ).

Biological notes. This species is mainly found in coastal wetlands and feeds on Phragmites australis (Cav.) ( Poaceae ). This species occurs from June to November in temperate regions of Japan. This species and C. agamopsyche apparently occupy the same niche on the host plant, but allopatric in the Ryukyus.

Etymology. The species epithet is derived from orange stripes on the face and dorsum.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus, faces, forewings, and hind legs of Stenocranus and Ceratocranus gen. nov. (all males). A, winter form; B, summer form.—A, B, E, S. tonghuaensis; C, F, L, C. agamopsyche; D, G, M, O, C. aurantius sp. nov.; H, S. niisimai; I, N, S. tamagawanus; J, S. kisimotoi sp. nov.; K, S. takasagonis. Scales: 1.0 mm (A–D, H–M), 0.5 mm (N, O).

FIGURE 7. Female genitalia of Stenocranus and Ceratocranus gen. nov. A, B, gonapophysis IX covered with gonapophysis VIII in dorsal view; C–H, apical part of gonapophysis VIII in ventral view.—A, S. takasagonis; B, C. agamopsyche; C, S. niisimai; D, S. tamagawanus; E, S. sapporensis; F, S. kisimotoi sp. nov.; G, S. fallax; H, C. aurantius sp. nov.

FIGURE 8. Female genitalia of Stenocranus, Ceratocranus gen. nov. and Terauchiana. A–H, gonapophysis IX in dorsal view; I–P, same in lateral view.—A, I, S. niisimai; B, J, S. tamagawanus; C, K, S. sapporensis; D, L, S. tateyamanus; E, M, S. kisimotoi sp. nov.; F, N, S. chenzhouensis; G, O, C. aurantius sp. nov.; H, P, T. singularis.

FIGURE 9. Male genitalia of Stenocranus and Ceratocranus gen. nov. in lateral view.—A, S. niisimai; B, S. tamagawanus; C, S. sapporensis; D, S. harimensis; E, S. tateyamanus; F, S. kisimotoi sp. nov.; G, S. takasagonis; H, S. fallax; I, S. chenzhouensis; J, S. tonghuaensis; K, C. agamopsyche; L, C. aurantius sp. nov. Scales: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 10. Male genitalia of Stenocranus and Ceratocranus gen. nov. in ventrocaudal view.—A, S. niisimai; B, S. tamagawanus; C, S. sapporensis; D, S. harimensis; E, S. tateyamanus; F, S. kisimotoi sp. nov.; G, S. takasagonis; H, S. fallax; I, S. chenzhouensis; J, S. tonghuaensis; K, C. agamopsyche; L, C. aurantius sp. nov. Scales: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 14. Male genitalia (A–J) and female genitalia (K–M) of Stenocranus and Ceratocranus gen. nov. A–C, phallotheca in lateral view; D–F, same in ventral view; G, suspensorium in anterior view; H–J, gonostyle in widest view; K–M, gonoplac in ventral view.—A, D, H, K, S. tonghuaensis; B, E, I, L, C. agamopsyche; C, F, G, J, M, C. aurantius sp. nov.