Review of the Chinese leafhopper genus Parazyginella Chou & Zhang (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Zyginellini) with description of a new species

Abstract The two leafhopper species in the genus Parazyginella Chou & Zhang from China are reviewed and illustrated including one new species, Parazyginella tianisp. n. whichis described. A key to separate males of the two species is provided.


Introduction
Zyginellini is one of the smaller tribes in the large leafhopper subfamily Typhlocybinae. Members of the subfamily feed on trees, shrubs and herbs and some occur on economic crops including two species of Zyginellini, Zyginella mali (Yang) and Z. minuta (Yang), which damage apple trees in China. Members of this tribe can be distinguished by their usual bright coloration with distinct patterns and by the hindwing venation with the vannal veins separate apically, with only one transverse vein visible and submarginal vein extended directly to vein CuA, forming one open cell (Fig. 13).
The Oriental Zyginellini genus Parazyginella was erected by Chou and Zhang (1985) with P. lingtianensis from Guangxi, China as its type species. There have been no further reports of this genus which is recognized by its depressed body form and a dark spot near the apex of the forewing (Figs 1-3). In this paper, we describe a second species, Parazyginella tiani sp. n. from Yunnan, China. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the collections of the Entomological Museum, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, China (NWAFU) and The Natural History Museum, London (BMNH).

Parazyginella Chou & Zhang, 1985
http://species-id.net/wiki/Parazyginella Parazyginella Chou & Zhang, 1985: 295;Zhang 1990: 174. Type species. Parazyginella lingtianensis Chou & Zhang, 1985 Description. Body flattened. Vertex conically produced, middle length nearly equal to width and length of pronotum; coronal suture distinct. Head and pronotum whitish yellow. Scutellum and venter yellow. Forewing with base of 1 st and 4 th apical cells at same level; 3 rd apical cell triangular and with a dark spot; hind margin of brochosome field and veins in apical area of wing touched with dark brown.
Abdominal apodemes elongate, reaching beyond 5th abdominal sternite. Male pygofer strongly sclerotized, with short, finger-like process caudo-dorsally and few scattered microsetae. Subgenital plates broad at base, distally abruptly tapered to short narrow apex, with few macrosetae basally. Paramere simple, with central part expanded, apical part tapering to acute apex and strongly bent. Connective with short arms and medial lobe present. Aedeagus asymmetrical with basal part strongly sclerotized with short preatrium and large dorsal apodeme, the latter laterally compressed with distal anterior region membranous and distal posterior region strongly curved anteriorly; shaft elongate, with a single elongate apical process on one side; gonopore obscure.
Parazyginella resembles Zyginella Löw, but differs in its more greatly developed dorsal apodeme of the aedeagus and male pygofer with a dorsal finger-like process and without long macrosetae (Figs 16, 17).

Distribution. China (Guangxi).
Remarks. The male genitalia of the unique type could not be found. Therefore the pygofer (originally not figured) could not be examined and compared to the new species. Also, the original figure of the aedeagus (shown here, Fig. 10) did not show the membranous area of the basal apodeme shown in our new species. We conclude that this area was probably overlooked and add a line to the figure to show its approximate position.
Distribution. China (Yunnan). Remarks. The new species resembles P. lingtianensis but differs in having brown markings on the vertex (compare Figs 1 and 2) and different shaped aedeagus as noted in the key.
Etymology. The new species is named after the collector's family name in gratitude.