Fistulatus Zhang, Zhang & Chen

Lu, Lin & Zhang, Yalin, 2014, Taxonomy of the Oriental leafhopper genus Fistulatus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), with description of a new species from China, Zootaxa 3838 (2), pp. 247-250 : 247-248

Genus Fistulatus Zhang, Zhang & Chen

Type species: Fistulatus sinensis Zhang, Zhang & Chen, 1997: 237

Fistulatus Zhang, Zhang & Chen, 1997 ; Cen & Cai, 2002: 117 –119; Shang & Zhang, 2003: 21; Shang et al., 2006: 152

Diagnosis. Crown about as broad as pronotum; length shorter than half distance between eyes and slightly longer medially than next to eyes. Crown transversely depressed subapically with few transverse striations on anterior margin. Ocelli marginal, near corresponding eyes. Face broader than long; antenna longer than half body length, located at anterodorsal corner of eye; antennal pit deep and encroaching onto frontoclypeus; frontoclypeus narrow with median area slightly swollen; anteclypeus narrowed medially, expanded apically; lora large; genal sides nearly straight below eye. Pronotum with sides fairly short; transversely striate. Scutellum about same length as pronotum. Forewing with four apical cells and three subapical cells, first subapical cell open. Forefemur with single AV1 seta, intercalary row with about 9~11 setae, subapical AM1 present, stout, but the anterior ventral margin bearing 3~4 stout setae. Foretibia dorsal seta formula 1+4; hind femur apical spines 2 +2+1. Pygofer with one or two lateral processes. Valve approximately rectangular. Connective with stem very short, Y-shaped with arms converging apically. Aedeagus large with basal part (socle) narrow; basal apodeme elongate; shaft tubular and elongate with paired processes or flanges, gonopore apical on posterior surface.

Distribution. Oriental Region ( China, Malaysia).

Remarks. It is difficult to distinguish this genus from related genera because coloration and head structure are very similar. However, the characteristics of the male genitalia are clearly different; generally the aedeagal shaft is tubular and elongate with paired processes or flanges and the pygofer has processes. Fistulatus resembles the genus Kutara Distant but differs in having male pygofer processes. Fistulatus is related to the genus Carvaka Distant but differ from the latter by aedeagus usually lacking apical paired processes. This genus is also similar to Bhatia Distant but can be differentiated from the latter by lacking aedeagal basal process and appendages between aedeagus and connective.