Minucella leucomaculata (Li & Zhang) Li & Zhang, 2008

Wei, Cong & Zhang, Yalin, 2008, Minucella, a new leafhopper genus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Stegelytrinae), Zootaxa 1854, pp. 33-44 : 37-41

Minucella leucomaculata (Li & Zhang) comb. n.

( Figs 1–28 )

Placidus leucomaculatus Li & Zhang 2006: 156 , Figs 10–17 .

Placidus maculates Li & Zhang 2007: 149 , Fig. 5 (in Li et al 2007), syn. nov.

Description. Body length (incl. fore wings), male: 5.3–6.8 mm; female: 5.6–6.9mm. Body generally yellowbrown, with variable black to dark brown markings on thorax (see Fig. 24 ). Fore wing with 5th apical cell very Material examined. P. R. CHINA, Shaanxi Prov.: 1ɗ (NWAFU), Zi-Yang Co. (E108.55°, N32.56°), 11- VIII-1973, Jin-Sheng LU. Sichuan Prov.: 1ɗ (ZSU), Omei Shan: Shin-Kai-Zao (E103.29°, N29.36°), 1500m, 15-VIII-1940, L. Gressitt. Fujian Prov., De-Hua Co. (E118.24°, N25.5°): 1ɗ (CAU), 13/VI/1974, Ji-Kun YANG; 1ɗ (CAU), 11/VI/1974, Ji-Kun YANG; 1 Ψ (IZAS), Chong-An Co. (E118.02°, N27.76°), 720~ 800m, 10-VIII-1960, Shen-Qiao JIANG; 1 Ψ (IZAS), Jian-Yang Co. (E118.07°, N27.21°), 300~ 320m, 29-III-1960, Fu-Ji PU. Yunnan Prov.: 1ɗ (IZAS), Jing-Hong Co. (E100.48°, N22.01°), Xiao-Meng-Yang, 26-III-1957, Ling-Chao ZANG; 1ɗ (CAU), Meng-Hai Co. (E100.5°, N21.95°), 1160m, 18-IV-1981, Ji-Kun YANG; 1ɗ, 1Ψ (NKU), Meng-Hai Co., 6-X-1979, Huan-Guang ZOU; 1Ψ (IZAS), 1200m, 28-V-1958, Xu-Wu MENG; 1Ψ (IZAS), Meng-Hai Co., 1200~ 1400m, 2-V-1958, Xu-Wu MENG; 1ɗ (IZAS), Meng-Lian Co. (E99.55°, N22.32°), 1050~ 1080m, 17-X-1958, Zhi-Zi CHEN; 1Ψ (CAU), Si-Mao Co. (E101.00°, N22.79°), 1320m, 7- IV-1981, Ji-Kun YANG; 1Ψ (CAU), Long-Chuan Co. (E97.96°, N24.33°), 1430m, 28-IV-1981, Ji-Kun YANG; 2ɗɗ (IRSNB), Jing-Hong Co. (E100.48°, N22.01°), Mengyang, 0 5, 11-III-1999, River Bed, P. Grootaert;1ɗ (TJNHM), Li-Jiang Co. (E116.26°, N29.42°), 5-VIII-1979, Sheng-Li LIU; 1Ψ (TJNHM), Li-Jiang Co., 5-VIII-1979, Sheng-Li LIU; 1Ψ (NKU), Li-Jiang Co., Xiang Shan, 2-VIII-1979, Huan-Guang ZOU; 1Ψ (NKU), Li-Jiang Co., Xiang-Shan, 5-VIII-1979, Huan-Guang ZOU.

Fig. 26. Minucella leucomaculata Variations of styles and connectives, dorsal view.

Remarks. This species was previously misplaced in Placidus Distant (= Cyrta Melichar ) (see Wei et al, 2008) by Li & Zhang (2006). In the present paper we place it in Minucella based on its similarity to the type species of Minucella ( M. divaricata sp. n.) described below. We tentatively identify the above listed examined material as leucomaculata despite the considerable variation in male genitalia and discrepancies between the specimens examined and the original descriptions of Placidus leucomaculata and its new junior synonym P. maculates . These differences include the length of the aedeagal processes, which are longer in the original figures of leucomaculata than in our specimens, and the fact that the processes are bifurcate in the original figures, but are separate processes in our specimens. However, the latter difference may be due to incorrect interpretation by Li & Zhang (2006), resulting from the dissected genitalia being drawn from a slide, as is the usual practice of these authors. This would also explain why the shaft appears twisted in their figure of the posterior view of the aedeagus. In addition, the body length of the holotype was given as 8.5mm, which may be incorrect based on the shorter length of the specimens in our sample.

In the following account the material examined and illustrated from various localities and collectors is abbreviated in the text, figures and figure legends as follows: Yunnan Prov.: Jing-Hong Co. (YNJH); Li- Jiang Co. (YNLJ); Meng-Hai Co., coll. Ji-Kun YANG (YNMH1); Meng-Hai Co., coll. Huan-Guang ZOU (YNMH2); Sichuan Prov.: Omei Shan (SC); Fujian Prov.: De-Hua Co. (FJ); Shaanxi Prov.: Zi-Yang Co. (SX).

The following differences are found in the specimens from the above localities: ventral margin of male pygofer side with excision very weak or absent (YNLJ, YNMH2 and SC); basal margin of connective strongly convex (FJ); aedeagal shaft weakly developed lateroventrally (relatively southern YNJH, YNMH1, YNMH2 and FJ excepting YNLJ); aedeagal shaft strongly developed laterally and lateral lobe-like expansion partially concealed in dorsal view (YNLJ and relatively northern SC and SX). As all these genital characteristics show a gradual change from different localities and overlap to a certain extent. We concludetherefore, that they represent variation within the same species (see also discussion below).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Minucella leucomaculata Colour pattern variations of face, head and thorax. YNJH (YUNNAN PROV.: Jing-Hong Co.); YNLJ (YUNNAN PROV.: Li-Jiang Co.); YNMH 1 (YUNNAN PROV.: Meng-Hai Co.; coll. Ji-Kun YANG); YNMH 2 (YUNNAN PROV.: Meng-Hai Co.; coll. Huan-Guang ZOU); SC (SICHUAN PROV.: Omei Shan); FJ (Fujian PROV.); SX (SHAANXI PROV.: Zi-Yang Co.).

FIGURES 1 – 14. Minucella leucomaculata 1, head and thorax, dorsal view; 2, face; 3, fore wing; 4, fore femur, dorsal view; 5, fore femur, anterior view; 6, fore tibia, anterodorsal surface; 7, fore tibia, ventral surface; 8, fore tibia, dorsal surface; 9, cross section of fore tibia; 10, apex of hind femur, lateral view; 11, base of hind tibia, ventral view.; 12, hind tibia, anterior surface; 13, hind tibia, dorsal surface; 14, hind tarsomeres and pretarsus, ventral surface.

FIGURES 15 – 23. Minucella leucomaculata 15, male genital capsule and segment X, dorsal view; 16, valve and left subgenital plate, ventral view; 17, base of aedeagus, part of sclerotised inner process and dorsal connective, lateral view; 18, aedeagus, part of scerlerotised inner process and dorsal connective, in view of arrow in Fig. 17; 19. apex of female abdomen. 20, female genital capsule; 21, first valifer and first valvula; 22, second valvula. 23, third valvula.

FIGURE 25. Minucella leucomaculata Variations of male pygofer, lateral view.

FIGURES 27. Minucella leucomaculata Variations of aedeagus, dorsal view.

FIGURE 28. Minucella leucomaculata Variations of aedeagus, lateral view.