A new genus and species in the tribe Empoascini (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China

Abstract One new leafhopper genus, Circinans, is described with a new species Circinans striata sp. n. as the type species from southern China. Habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of this new species are given and differences between the new genus and closely related genera are discussed.


Introduction
The tribe Empoascini is a diverse group and differs from other leafhoppers in the subfamily Typhlocybinae in lacking an appendix in the forewing and in having a submarginal vein at the apex of the hindwing and veins RP, MP' confluent distally (Dietrich 2005). Currently, Empoascini comprises more than 1,000 described species, widely distributed in every continent except Antarctica. In agroecosystems, some species in the tribe, and especially Empoasca spp., may attack a broad range of host plants and induce "hopper burn" in the plant tissue. Empoasca leafhoppers may also vector viruses, bacteria, and fungi and transmit them efficiently to plants as a consequence of their ingestion-egestion feeding behavior (Backus et al. 2005).
The fauna of Empoascini in China is very rich. Recent studies of this tribe include Lu et al. (2013), Qin et al. (2013) and Yang (2013a, 2013b) with more than 180 Chinese species in 32 genera having been reported so far. However, the Chinese fauna of this tribe remains obscure and many new taxa await being described. This paper adds a new genus and species based on our recent examination of materials collected from southern China.

Material and methods
The specimens examined in this study are deposited in the Entomological Museum, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China (NWAFU). The entire male abdomens of the examined specimens were removed and cleared in 10% NaOH and drawn based on preparations preserved in glycerin. Figures of male genitalia were drawn using an OLYMPUS PM-10AD, and wings were drawn using a LEICA MZ-12.5 microscope. External morphology was observed under an OLYMPUS SZX-10 microscope. Photographs of the specimens were made using a Nikon SMZ 1500 microscope with a Retiga 4000R camera (CCD). Images were produced using the software Auto-Montage Pro. All pictures were edited using Adobe Photoshop CS7.0 (Adobe Systems). Body measurements are from apex of vertex to tip of forewing.
Morphological terminology follows Zhang (1990) with the following exceptions: wing venation follows Dworakowska (1993), terms for the four types of setae on the subgenital plate and "horn" for the posterior extension of the dorsum of pygofer follow Southern (1982). 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).
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).

Circinans striata Qin & Lu, sp. n.
http://zoobank.org/CB84160F-C396-4DC7-B4BA-DBA0CA9CAA52 http://species-id.net/wiki/ Circinans_striata  Figs 1-18 Description. Size. Male 3.7-4.1 mm. General color of body brownish yellow. Vertex yellow, with large creamy patches surrounding ocelli caudomesad, coronal suture brown. Eye black. Face with a longitudinal orange stripe in middle which is less distinct at apex of anteclypeus, rest area of face yellow except genae whitish. Antennae with scape yellow, pedicel brownish. Pronotum brownish yellow centrally and whitish posteriorly, surrounded by irregular arc of light hypodermal pattern in addition to three irregular creamy patches along ante-rior margin. Centre of scutellum with a quadrate whitish patch anteriorly, a triangular creamy patch caudad of scutoscutellar sulcus and two triangular beige patches at basal angles on each side. Forewing and hindwing subhyaline. Dorsum of abdomen blackish, ventrally sordid yellow. Legs yellow except 1st and 2nd tibia and tarsus brown.