Neobelocera parvula, Li & Chen & Yang, 2023

Li, Hong-Xing, Chen, Xiang-Sheng & Yang, Lin, 2023, Two new species of the bamboo-feeding planthopper genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang from China (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae), ZooKeys 1183, pp. 233-244 : 233

Neobelocera parvula sp. nov.

Figs 17-22 , 23-31

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, China: Yunnan, Jinghong County (21°586'N, 100°686'E), 19 Apr. 2020; H.X. Li leg.; paratypes, 8♂♂, 5♀♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The species epithet is derived from the Latin word ' parvula ', referring to the small body. It is a feminine in gender.

Measurements.

Body length including forewing: male 2.9-3.1 mm (N = 8), female 2.9-3.3 mm (N = 5).

Diagnosis.

Forewings (Fig. 22 ) with blackish-brown markings, of which veins with white spots or white short stripes at intervals. Frons (Fig. 21 ) with pale transverse band below level of lower margin of eyes. Ventral margin of pygofer (Fig. 25 ) with medioventral process, three branched medially, right branch much longer than the other two, sinuate, median branch nearly equal to left branch, left branch with a small process near apex. Anal segment (Fig. 27 ) with a long ventral process medially, bent ventrad medially.

Description.

Coloration. General coloration yellowish white to dark brown (Figs 17-22 ). Vertex (Fig. 19 ) yellowish white. Frons (Fig. 21 ) with basal half yellowish brown to brown, apical half yellowish white, with two triangular markings at apex. Genae (Fig. 21 ) dark brown, except longitudinal stripes below level of lower margin of ocelli yellowish white. Clypeus (Fig. 21 ) yellowish brown, except longitudinal stripes near lateral margin dark brown. Eyes (Figs 19-21 ) yellowish white to dark brown, ocelli (Fig. 20 ) reddish brown. Antennae (Figs 19-21 ) yellow to dark brown. Pronotum (Fig. 19 ) yellowish white to dark brown, median carina yellowish white. Mesonotum (Fig. 19 ) yellowish brown to dark brown, apex of scutellum yellowish white. Legs (Figs 17 , 18 ) yellowish white, with dark brown maculations. Forewing (Fig. 22 ) light yellowish white, basal part near costal margin with large infuscate markings, and apical part from transverse veins to apex with dark-brown markings, veins with white spots at intervals. Wings hyaline with veins dark brown. Abdomen yellowish brown to dark brown.

Head and thorax. Head including eyes slightly narrower than pronotum, in profile obtusely rounding into frons (Figs 19 , 20 ). Vertex (Figs 19 , 23 ) broad transversely, wider at base than long medially about 2.72: 1, width at apex narrower than at base about 1: 1.81, anterior margin produced medially, Y-shaped carina distinct. Frons (Figs 21 , 24 ) in mid line longer than wide at widest part about 1.68: 1, widest above level of lower margin of eyes, median carina forked at extreme base. Postclypeus (Figs 21 , 24 ) wider at base than frons at apex. Antennae (Figs 21 , 24 ) reaching median part of postclypeus, basal segment shorter at midline than second segment about 1: 1.38, second segment long oval, somewhat compressed, longer than wide about 2.30: 1. Pronotum (Figs 19 , 23 ) tricarinate, with anterior margin truncate, posterior margin incised strongly, lateral carinae running near anterolateral margin and reaching hind margin. Mesonotum (Figs 19 , 23 ) tricarinate, longer in mid line than vertex and pronotum together about 2.03: 1, median carina reaching end of scutellum. Forewing (Fig. 22 ) broad and elongate, much longer than abdomen, longer in mid line than wide at widest part about 2.81: 1, predominately clear with distinctive white markings, wing apex acutely rounded; Sc, RA and RP unbranched; MP branched near wing apex, CuA 3-branched; junction of PCu + AA near midlength of clavus; fork of MP+CuA at near 2/3 length of clavus; fork RA+SC and RP near claval apex.

Male genitalia. Anal segment (Figs 25-27 ) ring-like, ventral margin with a long process medially, bent ventrad medially. Pygofer (Figs 25 , 26 ) in profile much longer ventrally than dorsally, in posterior view with opening longer than wide, ventral margin with medioventral process, three branched medially, right branch much longer than other two, sinuate, median branch nearly equal to left branch, left branch with a small process near apex. Genital styles (Figs 28 , 29 ) stout, short, bent near middle, tapering apically. Aedeagus (Fig. 30 ) with phyllobase, phallus tubular, long, forked at apex, phyllobase slender, tubular, arising from base of aedeagus, two branched, longer branch bent ventrally near apex, shorter branch straight.

Female genitalia. Female pygofer (Fig. 31 ) with gonocoxae narrower and long, basal angle sharply acute. Ovipositor slightly longer than pygofer. Gonangulum broad and large, apex round with medial margin concave, connected at base to gonapophyses and gonocoxae.

Host plant.

Bambusoideae .

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Remarks.

This new species is similar to N. biprocessa Li, Yang & Chen, 2020, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following features: (1) anal segment of male (Figs 25-27 ) with a long ventral process medially [anal segment without process in N. biprocessa ( Li et al. 2020: fig. 2D)]; (2) pygofer (Fig. 25 ) with medioventral process [pygofer without medioventral process in N. biprocessa ( Li et al. 2020: fig. 2D)]; and (3) genital styles (Figs 28 , 29 ) stout and short [genital styles slender and long in N. biprocessa ( Li et al. 2020: fig. 2H)].

Figures

Figures 17 - 22. Neobelocera parvula sp. nov. 17 male adult, dorsal view 18 same, lateral view 19 head and thorax, dorsal view 20 same, lateral view 21 face 22 forewing. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (16, 17, 21); 0.3 mm (18 - 20).

Figures 23 - 31. Neobelocera parvula sp. nov. 23 head and thorax, dorsal view 24 face 25 male genitalia, posterior view 26 same, lateral view 27 anal segment, dorsal view 28 genital style, posterior view 29 same, lateral view 30 aedeagus, lateral view 31 female genitalia, posterior view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (31); 0.2 mm (23 - 27, 30); 0.1 mm (28, 29).