Flexocerus Kuoh & Fang

Xue, Qingquan & Zhang, Yalin, 2015, Two new species in the endemic Chinese leafhopper genera Flexocerus and Idioceroides (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae), Zootaxa 3920 (4), pp. 555-562 : 556

Flexocerus Kuoh & Fang

Flexocerus Kuoh & Fang, 1985: 91 . Type species: Flexocerus flexureus Kuoh & Fang , by original designation.

Body generally yellow green, yellowish or yellowish brown; crown with black spot on either side of midline; lateral frontal sutures with black spots mesad. Pronotum with several dark irregular lines. Scutellum basal triangles dark brown or black.

Body robust. Head obviously wider than pronotum. Crown short with median length as long or slightly longer than length next to eyes. Face wider than long, with series of distinct arcuate rugae dorsally; lateral frontal sutures present, not reaching ocelli; frontoclypeus and anteclypeus elevated and lateral margin curved, apex of anteclypeus often broad, slightly concave or flat, surpassing apex of gena, not sexually dimorphic; lateral margin of gena concave in middle; lora broad; ocelli placed closer to eye than to each other; antenna aristiform, not expanded apically or subapically; rostrum short, not reaching hind coxae. Pronotum distinctly rugose, with short lateral margin, anterior margin convex and posterior margin slightly concave. Scutellum about as long or longer than pronotum. Forewing with 4 apical and 3 subapical cells; appendix broad. Hind femur with 2+1 apical setae. Fore femur with a stout and long AV setae basally; AD setae irregularly arranged and very short. Fore tibia slightly curved, with AV and PV setae on apical half, long and stout; AD setae very short and sparse. Hind tibia with very stout AD setae 4 and AV setae 6–7, situated on strongly bases; AD setae on basal half; PD setae dense and long. Hind basitarsus with 2 platellae and a ventral seta.

Valve rectangular, with caudal margin convex in middle. Pygofer broad, rectangular, with or without fingershaped process on inner surface ventrally. Subgenital plate elongate, with fine setae on dorsal and ventral margin. Style sickle-shaped, ventral margin with tooth at apical half, broad subapically, curved dorsally and apex pointed, usually without setae. Connective T-shaped. Aedeagus tubular, with 2 or more processes on ventral surface subapically or proximal, pointing to apex or base of aedeagus; shaft S-shaped or arch; dorsal apodeme developed, apex usually bifurcate; gonopore subapical on ventral surface.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).

Remarks. Flexocerus can be distinguished by its robust appearance, face with black spots mesad of lateral frontal sutures; crown and pronotum finely rugose; frontoclypeus and anteclypeus distinctly elevated; genae lateral margin concave in middle; anteclypeus apex broad, surpassing apex of gena; style apex pointed, sickle-shaped, ventral margin toothlike at apical half, usually without setae; aedeagal shaft S-shaped or arched, with at least 2 processes, dorsal apodeme developed, usually bifurcate apically.