Circinans Qin & Lu

Lu, Si-han & Qin, Dao-zheng, 2014, A new genus and species in the tribe Empoascini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China, ZooKeys 386, pp. 85-91 : 86-87

Circinans Qin & Lu gen. n.

Type species.

Circinans striata Qin & Lu, sp. n. here designated.

Description.

Small, yellowish empoascines. Head including eyes as wide as pronotum (Figs 1, 3). Vertex in midline shorter than width between eyes, anterior margin slightly produced medially (Figs 1, 3), profile of transition of vertex to face rounded, coronal suture distinct, extending well beyond crown midlength (Figs 2, 3). Face broad, convex in profile, lateral frontal suture distinct (Figs 2, 4). Ocelli on margin about equidistant between eye and midline (Figs 3, 4). Pronotum large (Figs 1, 3). Forewing narrow, rounded apically, apical cells occupying nearly one-third total length, veins RP and MP’ dissociated at their bases, both arise from r cell and MP’’+CuA’ from m cell, c and r cells nearly equal in width, both narrower than m and cua cells (Fig. 9). Hindwing with CuA branched, point of branching distad of coalescence of CuA with MP" (Fig. 10).

Male basal abdominal sternal apodemes not well developed (Fig. 8). Male pygofer short, with few rigid microsetae along posterior margin, ventral appendage absent (Figs 5, 11), dorsal bridge short (Fig. 6). Subgenital plate far exceeding pygofer side, widest at base and tapered to rounded apex, all categories of setae present, A-group setae near base of plate, B-group setae occupying more than half length of anterior margin, C-group setae bluntly terminated, arranged in two rows near base and subapically, between them the macrosetae merged into a single row (Figs 5, 7, 11, 13, 14). Paramere robust, slightly longer than pygofer, apophysis bearing prominent dentifer and long setae situated more cephalad (Figs 5, 11, 18). Connective lamellate (Figs 13, 17). Aedeagus in profile narrow, C-shaped in outline, preatrium well developed (Figs 5, 7, 11, 15, 16). Anal tube process broad and extended caudad (Figs 5, 7, 11, 12).

Etymology.

This name alludes to the unique shape of the aedeagus. Gender: feminine.

Discussion.

In the Empoascini , Circinans is similar to Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada, Luodianasca Qin & Zhang, Membranacea Qin & Zhang, Nikkotettix Matsumura, Schizandrasca Anufriev and Szara Dworakowska in having all apical cells in forewing with separate bases, branching point of CuA in hindwing at or distad of coalescence of CuA with MP" and male pygofer lacking ventral appendage (in Nikkotettix , 3rd apical cell in forewing stalked or sessile, male pygofer having or lacking ventral appendage). However, the new genus differs from these genera in having the C-shaped aedeagus; C-group setae of subgenital plate arranged in two rows subapically (aedeagus not C-shaped and C-group setae of subgenital plate uniseriate subapically in these other genera), from Luodianasca and Szara in the subgenital plate having A-group setae (A-group setae absent in Luodianasca and Szara ). This new genus also differs from Alebrasca and Membranacea in the presence of an anal tube appendage (anal tube appendage absent in Alebrasca and Membranacea ).

Distribution.

China (Fujian, Guizhou).