﻿Two new species of the bamboo-feeding planthopper genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang from China (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae)

﻿Abstract Two new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang, 1986, N.furcatasp. nov. and N.parvulasp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. A key based on the male genitalia is given to distinguish species of this genus and a map provided to show their geographic distribution. Habitus photos for adults and illustrations of male genitalia are also given.

Of the Chinese genera of the tribe, Belocera Muir, 1913 and Neobelocera, have the antennae flattened, sagittate or subsagittate.A comparison of Neobelocera and Belocera shows that species in these genera look rather similar, but the two genera can be easily distinguished by the following characters: first segment of antennae with the apex unequally bifurcate, ventral apical angle much longer than dorsal apical angle, with median longitudinal carina (in Belocera, apex of first segment of antennae equally bifurcate, ventral apical angle subequal to dorsal apical angle, without median longitudinal carina); postclypeus in profile, apical part of median carina roundly bent (in Belocera, postclypeus in profile, apical part of median carina and lateral carinae sharply bent); rostrum very short, only reaching mesotrochanters (rostrum surpassing mesotrochanters in Belocera); and the surface of the forewing often has blackish-brown markings, in the dark portion veins bear white or yellowish-white spots (in Belocera, forewing often with a fuscous central longitudinal fascia, costal area light yellowish white).
Herein, two new species of Neobelocera, N. furcata sp.nov.and N. parvula sp.nov., are described and illustrated from Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, China.A key for identifying the species is provided and a map showing the geographic distribution of the species is also given.

Material and methods
The morphological terminology follows Yang and Yang (1986).Dry male specimens were used for the description and illustration.External morphology was observed under a stereoscopic microscope and characters were measured with an ocular micrometer.Color pictures for the adult habitus were obtained using the KEYENCE VHX-6000 system.The genital segments of the examined specimens were macerated in 10% KOH and drawn from preparations in glycerin jelly using a Leica MZ 12.5 stereo microscope.Illustrations were scanned with a Canon CanoScan LiDE 200 and imported into Adobe Photoshop 6.0 for labeling and plate composition.
The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
Diagnosis.Forewings (Fig. 6) with blackish-brown markings, of which veins with white spots or white short stripes at intervals.Frons (Fig. 5) with pale transverse band below level of lower margin of eyes.Ventral margin of pygofer (Fig. 12) with 3 medioventral processes, lateral ones short, tapering, median one forked at apex, with 4 processes on each side and the middle two much smaller.Anal segment (Fig. 9) without process.Genital styles (Figs 13,14) with apex forked, outer angle about twice as long as inner angle.
Description.Coloration.General coloration yellowish brown to dark brown (Figs 1-6).Vertex, pronotum, mesonotum (Fig. 3) dirty yellowish brown, with apex of scutellum yellowish white.Frons, genae and clypeus (Fig. 5) yellowish brown to dark brown, except broad transversal stripe below level of lower margin of eyes and narrow stripe on apex of frons yellowish white, near apex of median carina of frons and inner margin of lateral carinae of genae with several short transversal stripes yellowish white.Eyes and ocelli (Figs 4, 5) reddish brown.Antennae (Figs 3-5) yellowish brown to dark brown, except lateral margins of first segment and apex of second segment yellowish white.Legs (Fig. 5) yellowish white, with dark brown maculations.Forewing (Fig. 6) almost hyaline, along MP vein to apex with dark-brown markings, veins dark brown, 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 rounded into frons (Figs 3, 4).Vertex (Figs 3, 7) broad transversely, wider at base than long medially about 2.36: 1, width at apex narrower than at base about 1: 1.84, anterior margin produced medially, Y-shaped carina distinct.Frons (Figs 5,8) in mid line longer than wide, at widest part about 1.93: 1, widest above level of lower margin of eyes, median carina forked at ex-   Male genitalia.Anal segment (Fig. 9) small, ring-like, without process.Pygofer (Figs 9,10,12) in profile much longer ventrally than dorsally, in posterior view with opening longer than wide, ventral margin with 3 medioventral processes, lateral ones short, tapering, median one forked at apex, with 4 processes on each side and the middle two much smaller.Genital styles (Figs 13,14) moderately long, forked at apex, outer angle about twice as long as inner angle.Aedeagus (Fig. 15) with phyllobase, phallus tubular, long, expanded at base, bent ventrad medially, broad and forked at apex, curved sharply to the left apically.Phyllobase slender, tubular, arising from base of aedeagus, running dorsad, then curving caudad, after median part, turned left then ventrad, tapering apically.
Female genitalia.Female pygofer (Fig. 16) with gonocoxae broad and large, basal angle sharply acute.Ovipositor distinctly shorter than pygofer.Gonangulum broad and large, apex round with medial margin concave, connected at base to gonapophyses and gonocoxae.

Distribution. China (Guizhou).
Remarks.This new species is similar to N. russa Li, Yang & Chen, 2020, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following features: (1) forewing (Fig. 6) along MP vein to apex with dark-brown markings [forewing with apical part from transverse veins to apex with dark-brown markings in N. russa (Li et al. 2020: fig.3F)]; (2) medioventral processes of pygofer (Fig. 12) with median one forked at apex, with 4 processes on each side and the middle two much smaller [medioventral processes with median one not forked at apex, without process on each side in N. russa pygofer (Li et al. 2020: fig.4D)]; and (3) apex of phallus (Fig. 15) with two processes [apex of phallus with four processes in N. russa (Li et al. 2020 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 .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  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.
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.

Discussion
Based on published data and our field surveys, the eleven described species within the genus Neobelocera are distributed in southern China (Fig. 32) in the Palaearctic region (Shaanxi) and the Oriental region (Guizhou, Yunnan, Hainan, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi and Tibet).It seems that the genus is an endemic group of China.The complex and variable geomorphological environment and rich biological resources of the distribution area create a variety of habitat types, which are likely reasons for the rich species diversity of Neobelocera.We anticipate that additional species of Neobelocera will be found.Therefore, further investigation should be considered to fill the faunistic gaps, as it is obvious that many more taxa remain to be discovered and described.Members of Neobelocera were found feeding exclusively on some native bamboos, with many specimens collected from the beginning of May to the end of September in Guizhou Province.So far, there are no collection records in other plants, which may suggest that the host of Neobelocera species are very limited.
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.

Figure 32 .
Figure 32.Distribution records of species of the genus Neobelocera.