A taxonomic study on the genus Japananus Ball ( Hemiptera , Cicadellidae , Deltocephalinae ) , with description of one new species from China

Th e paper deals with four species of the genus Japananus Ball, 1931 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae), including one new species from Sichuan Province, China, Japananus bicurvatus sp. nov. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus, and illustrations of genitalia are provided. Th e type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University (IEGU).

Male pygophore slightly longer than high, devoid of processes, with a few stout setae along ventro-caudal margin, ventral margin rather expanded.Tenth segment short, without processes.Subgenital plate with a caudal attenuated process, without stout setae.Style slender, elongate, with short fi nger-like apophysis, apex curved laterally.Connective slender, elongate, Y-shaped.Aedeagus with paired shafts, U-shaped in ventral view, each shaft with a subapical process.Gonopore opening adjacent base of subapical processes.
Size.Length (including tegmen): 4.3-5.5 mm.Remarks.Japananus resembles Afrascius, Linnavuori, 1969 from the Afrotropical region.Both share a rather modifi ed Y-shaped connective and similar subapical process on the paired shafts.However, Japananus lacks the anal collar process possessed by Afrascius, and the subgenital plates in Japananus have a caudal attenuated process while Afrascius has caudally truncate subgenital plates (Viraktamath and Anantha Murthy, 1999).
Key to species (♂) of Japananus 1. Subapical process of aedeagal shafts forked (Fig. 3  Discussion.Th e distribution of this species in the Oriental Region, Australian Region, Nearctic Region and Palaearctic Region.Th is species, fi rst described from the USA (Osborn, 1900), is apparently native to Japan (Sanders and DeLong, 1920), from which it was introduced to North America with nursery stock of Japanese maples.It was subsequently (Matsumura, 1914) also described from Japan.It's a known host plants are maples, other plants have not collected this specimen.Th is species in western Europe seems to be confi ned to parks where 'Japanese maples' (Acer palmatum) are planted.Th e distribution of this species may be related to its host plants.
Known hosts.Acer palmatum.Remarks.Th is species is similar to Japananus hyalinus (Osborn) but can be distinguished by the the shape of the aedeagal shafts in ventral view and shape of their processes.
Etymology.Th e species name is derived from the Latin words bi and curvatus, indicating that the apical and subapical processes of aedeagal shafts are curved.