Branchana xanthota Li, 2011

Kamitani, Satoshi, 2018, First record of the alien bamboo leafhopper, Branchana xanthota, in Japan (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae), Zootaxa 4508 (4), pp. 579-581 : 579

Branchana xanthota Li, 2011 ( Figs. 1–2 )

Diagnosis. The body is entirely pale green in live specimens, immediately changing to pale yellow when dry. The body length (mean) including fore wings is 5.1–5.7 mm (5.4 mm) in males and 5.9–6.3 mm (6.1 mm) in females. The head is slightly produced anteriorly, having long antennae. The male genitalia are as follows: pygofer lobe with a short inner process near apex; subgenital plate triangular with a row of macrosetae; anterior arms of connective convergent and contiguous apically; aedeagus stout with two pairs of apical processes (the upper pair of apical processes of Japanese specimens is slightly shorter than in Chinese specimens).

Notes. This leafhopper was originally described from Guizhou Province, SW China, and also reported from Hunan and Sichuan Provinces ( Li et al. 2011; Chen et al. 2012). This is the first record from Japan .

In Japan, this species is dependent mainly on Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) , sometimes on Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr.) and Pleioblastus simonii (Carrière) . In China it was reported from two other bamboos, Qiongzhuea communis Hsueh & Yi and Phyllostachys pubescens (Carrière) ( Chen et al. 2012) .

Specimens examined. [Honshu] 18♂ 15♀, Mayama, Shimonita , Gunma Pref. , 20. VI.2014, M. Hayashi et al., at light ; 1♂ 6♀, Tsukamoto, Sakura-ku , Saitama, Saitama Pref. , 19. VI.2016, M. Hayashi, on Pleioblastus simonii ; 1♀, Murakuni, Iwatsuki , Saitama, Saitama Pref. , 26. VI.2016, M. Hayashi, on Phyllostachys bambusoides ; 3♂ 4♀, Renshoji Park, Bessho, Hachioji , Tokyo Met. , 2.IX.2009, M. Hayashi et al,. on Phyllostachys edulis ; 1♀, Nango, Chigasaki , Kanagawa Pref. , 6.X.2015, M. Hayashi, at light ; 1♂ 3♀, Funako, Atsugi , Kanagawa Pref. , 29. VI.2016, S. Kamitani, on Phyllostachys edulis ; 1♂ 1♀, Takabari, Itakacho, Meito-ku , Nagoya , Aichi Pref. , 22.VII.2010, S. Fujinuma, at light ; 8♂ 16♀, Saida, Kanazawa , Ishikawa Pref. , 3.VII.2014, T. Kiriyama, at light. [Kyushu] 16♂ 1♀, Motooka, Fukuoka-shi , Fukuoka Pref. , 15. VI.2017, S. Kamitani, at light .

Distribution. Japan (Honshu: Gunma, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Ishikawa; Kyushu: Fukuoka); China (Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan).

Figures

FIGURE 1. An alien leafhopper, Branchana xanthota. A–B, adult of female; C, habitat in Atsugi, Kanagawa Pref.

FIGURE 2. Male genitalia of Branchana xanthota. A, pygofer in lateral view; B, right subgenital plate in ventral view; C, apex of pygofer lobe and inner process in ventral view; D, aedeagus, connective and style in dorsal view; E, aedeagus in lateral view.