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Research Article
Three new species of Atkinsoniella (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellinae) from southwestern China
expand article infoYan Jiang§, Xiao-Fei Yu, Mao-Fa Yang
‡ Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
§ Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University, Guiyang, China
Open Access

Abstract

Three new species of the genus Atkinsoniella (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae), A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, A. likuni Jiang & Yang and A. biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., collected from southwestern China, are described and illustrated. The two new species, A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. and A. likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., are similar to A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. latior Young, 1986, A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, and A. zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022 in appearances, but can be distinguished from these species by the characteristic of aedeagus, paraphysis, and pygofer. Atkinsonella biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. can be distinguished from all the known Atkinsoniella species by its special color and markings, as well as males having one ostiole in the center of the base of each subgenital plate. A key to Atkinsoniella species from China is provided.

Key words

Auchenorrhyncha, China, leafhopper, morphology, taxonomy

Introduction

Southwestern China includes Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Chongqing Municipality. Due to its complex topography characterized by significant variations in altitude and numerous mountainous basins, many insects, including Cicadellidae, are rich in biodiversity in Southwest China. Of the 102 valid known species of the genus Atkinsoniella, 92 occur in China and distributed in 20 provincial administrative regions (Feng and Zhang 2015; Yang et al. 2017; Naveed and Zhang 2018; Jiang et al. 2022, 2023). Of the 92 known Chinese Atkinsoniella species, 72 species are distributed in Yunnan Province, 26 species in Guizhou Province, 21 species in Tibet Autonomous Region, 20 species in Sichuan Province, and 17 species are distributed in Chongqing Municipality (Yang et al. 2017; Jiang et al. 2023). In this study, the descriptions, male genitalia, and habitus photographs of three new species, Atkinsoniella chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., A. likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. and A. biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. from southwestern China are provided with a key to all Chinese species.

Materials and methods

The specimens were collected by sweeping (27–35 sweeps per collecting event) on shrubs and weeds using 2.5 m insect sweep nets (200 mesh) in daylight, and at sunset using a 500W high-pressure mercury lamps; all materials were preserved in absolute ethanol and stored at -20 °C in the laboratory. The abdomens of specimens were detached and soaked in 10% NaOH solution, boiled for ~ 3 min, rinsed with water to remove traces of NaOH, and transferred to glycerol for further dissection, photography, and eventually preserved in PCR tubes with glycerol. The habitus and male genitalia were photographed using a KEYENCE VHX-6000 digital camera and a Nikon Eclipse Ni-E microscope, respectively. Adobe Photoshop 2020 was used to edit compiled images. The length of the body was measured from the vertex to the rear of the forewings using a KEYENCE VHX-6000 digital camera. The morphological terminology is adapted from Young (1968, 1986) and Yang et al. (2017). The holotype and paratypes were deposited at the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Taxonomy

Atkinsoniella Distant, 1908

Atkinsoniella Distant, 1908: 235.

Soibanga Distant, 1908: 236.

Curvufacies Kuoh, 1993: 38.

Type species

Atkinsoniella decisa Distant, 1908, type locality India.

Distribution

Palearctic, Oriental.

Note

The comparison of male genitalia morphological characteristics of the nine similar Atkinsoniella species is provided in Table 1.

Table 1.

Comparison of male genitalia morphological characteristics of the nine similar Atkinsoniella species.

Species Pygofer Pygofer process Aedeagus Paraphysis Style
A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944) Posterior portion slightly widened, dorsal margin straight. Posterior 1/2 tapered, tip acute and not exceeding posterior margin of pygofer. Entirely short, dorsal margin nearly straight. Paraphysis with tip tapered and bent dorsad, articulating with aedeagus apically. Y-shaped
A. latior Young, 1986 Nearly rectangular with posterior margin broadly rounded. Pygofer process extending posterodorsally, then posteriorly, attenuated and sharply curved apically. Aedeagus wide, dorsal margin straight, apical part narrower. Paraphysis pygofer process extending posterodorsally, then posteriorly, attenuated, and sharply curved apically. Y-shaped
A. limba Kuoh, 1991 Dorsal margin with 1 angular flat process near base. Pygofer process arising basiventrally and tapered posteriorly. Aedeagus slender and posterior portion bent dorsad. Paraphysis with laterally produced flattened part subapically. Y-shaped
A. dormana Li, 1992 Dorsal margin with 1 angular flat process near base. Pygofer process bent posterodorsally from median, tip acute. Aedeagus wide basally, median with pair of triangular flat processes, tip bent dorsad. Paraphysis with tip tapered and bent dorsad, articulating with aedeagus apically. Nearly V-shaped
A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017 Posterior margin broadly rounded, basal 1/3 of dorsal margin convex and with several macrosetae. Posterior 1/2 bending dorsad, tip acute. Base wide, proximal portion slightly curved dorsad. Medially with wrinkle in ventral view, tip forked and clamped median of aedeagus. V-shaped
A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017 Medially bulging outwards, tip sharply flattened and contracted into rounded protrusion, resembling peak of peaked cap. Base with several microsetae, posterior portion acute and extending straight, tip not reaching posterior margin of pygofer. Basal 1/3 bent dorsad, medial 1/3 portion approaching paraphysis, tip rounded. Tip hooked and articulated with proximal aedeagus apically. V-shaped
A. zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022 Posterior portion broadly rounded and bent dorsally. Arising basiventrally and
extending dorsolateral posteriorly of pygofer, apex with transparent membrane
dorsad and exceeding posterior margin of pygofer.
Base and tip concave, ventral margin concave medially, apical 1/3 portion bent dorsad, tip obtuse. Apex acute and slightly bent dorsad, ventral margin undulating medially, and articulating with aedeagus apically. Y-shaped
A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. Entirety broad, tip convex arcuately and bent dorsally Base with short microsetae, extending arcuately and dorsolateral posteriorly of pygofer, posterior portion with lamellar membranous structures, tip acute. Posterior 1/2 warped dorsally, tip rounded, ventral margin articulate with paraphysis at basal 1/4 and 1/2. Basal 1/2 stipiform, posterior 1/2 widened, tip narrowed into a cusp and curved dorsally, and articulating with aedeagus apically. Nearly V-shaped
A. likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. Basal 1/2 broad, posterior 1/2 narrow, tip warped dorsally, posterior margin truncate. Entirety slender, arising basiventrally and extending along ventral margin of pygofer, slightly curved dorsally, median broadened with lamellar membranous structure, apical 1/3 narrow strip-shaped. Entirety slender and straight, tip slightly bent dorsally, median and subbase concave at ventral margin. Entirety slender and straight, posterior portion dilated, apex sharply tooth-shaped and bent dorsally, articulating apically with aedeagus at apical 2/5. Y-shaped

Atkinsoniella chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.

Figs 1A–D, 2A–F

Material examined

Holotype : • ♂, Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing Municipality, China, 781 m, 21 July 2021, coll. Li-Kun Zhong. Paratypes: • 3 ♂♂ (light trapped), Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing Municipality, China, 790 m, 24 July 2021, coll. Li-Kun Zhong.

Description

Length of male 6.9–7.3 mm. Dorsum orange. Crown with one black spot in center of vertex, and one black spot below each ocelli at basal margin; eyes black; ocellus brown; pronotum with one large inverted T-shaped black spot, and one or two black vimineous spots at each lateral margin; scutellum with one large black spot at each basal angle and connected to inverted T-shaped marking on pronotum to form seemingly lung lobe-shaped marking; forewing with black longitudinal stripe in clavus, corium, and clavus suture, respectively; posterior margin, anterior margin, and veins black, apical portion black brown, anterior marginal area black-brown in some specimens; face saffron-yellow, antennal ledge with one black spot; thorax and abdomen black in ventral view; legs brown or yellowish brown.

Figure 1. 

External features of Atkinsoniella chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., male holotype A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C face, anterior view D head and pronotum, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1000 μm.

Crown with anterior margin rounded and convex; crown surface flat except for lateral area of ocellus concave; ocellus located at imaginary line between anterior eye angles and tip of lateral clypeal suture; each ocellus further from other one than to adjacent eye; pronotum equal wide to head, anterior margin cambered, posterior margin slightly concave medially, lateral margins convergent anteriorly; scutellum with transverse depression slightly arcuate; face with frontoclypeus flat medially, muscle impressions distinct, clypeal sulcus slightly fuzzy medially; forewings with apical membranous area distinct and four apical cells, base of second cells more proximal than third cells transversely.

Figure 2. 

Male genitalia of Atkinsoniella chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. A style B aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view C pygofer process D aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view E pygofer, lateral view F subgenital plate, ventral view. Scale bars: 200 μm.

Male pygofer broadly short, tip arcuately convex and bent dorsally, posterior 1/2 and median of dorsal margin with macrosetae; pygofer process with short microsetae at base, and arcuately extending dorsolateral posteriorly of pygofer, posterior portion with lamellar membranous structures, tip acute; subgenital plate broad at base, posterior 1/2 narrow and bent dorsally, with one uniseriate row of macrosetae obliquely, lateral margin and apical 1/2 with long and short microsetae; aedeagus stout, with posterior 1/2 relatively narrow and warped dorsally, tip rounded, ventral margin articulate with paraphysis at basal 1/4 and 1/2; paraphysis basal 1/2 stipiform, posterior 1/2 gradually widened, tip narrowed into cusp and dorsally curved, articulating with aedeagus apically; connective V-shaped; style broad and short, with tip acute and bent.

Distribution

China (Chongqing).

Etymology

The name of the new species is derived from Chongqing where the type specimens were collected.

Remarks

This species is similar to A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. latior Young, 1986, A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, and A. zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022 in appearance, but can be easily differentiated from these species by the following characteristics: pygofer process extending dorsolateral posteriorly of the pygofer, and its posterior portion having lamellar membranous structures; the aedeagus has its posterior 1/2 warped dorsally, and the ventral margin is articulated with the paraphysis at basal 1/4 and 1/2.

Atkinsoniella likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.

Figs 3A–D, 4A–F

Material examined

Holotype : • ♂, Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing Municipality, China, 781 m, 21 July 2021, coll. Li-Kun Zhong. Paratypes: • 7 ♂♂ (light trapped)2 ♂♂, Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Chongqing Municipality, China, 781–1348 m, 18–24 July 2021, coll. Li-Kun Zhong.

Description

Length of male 6.6–6.8 mm. The appearance is similar to Atkinsoniella chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. Male pygofer broadly short, tip rounded and warped dorsally, median of dorsal margin and posterior 1/2 with long macrosetae; pygofer process slender and short, arising basiventrally and extending along ventral margin of pygofer, slightly curved dorsally and not as far posteriorly as pygofer apex, median lamellar broadened with membranous structure, apical 1/3 thin strip-shaped; subgenital plates basal 3/5 area broad, apical 2/5 narrow and bent dorsally, with one row of macrosetae uniseriate obliquely, long and short dense microsetae at outer lateral area of macrosetae; aedeagus slender and straight, with tip slightly bent dorsally, subbase concave at ventral margin, ventral margin articulating with dorsal margin of paraphysis medially and basally; paraphysis slender and straight, tip dilated, apex sharp teeth shaped and bent dorsally, articulating apically with aedeagus at apical 2/5 and median with aedeagus at base; connective Y-shaped; style broad at basal 2/3 and tapered at apical 1/3, apex acute and incurved.

Figure 3. 

External features of Atkinsoniella likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., male holotype A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C face, anterior view D head and pronotum, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1000 μm.

Distribution

China (Chongqing).

Etymology

The new species is named after the first name of the collector Li-Kun Zhong.

Remarks

This species is similar to A. nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. latior Young, 1986, A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022, and A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. in appearance, but it can be distinguished from these species by the following characteristics: (1) pygofer process smaller and not extending beyond the posterior margin of the pygofer, the median lamella is broadened with a membranous structure; (2) the aedeagus is slender and straight, its base articulating with the median of paraphysis; (3) the articulation of the aedeagus and paraphysis is located in the apical 2/5 of the aedeagus.

Figure 4. 

Male genitalia of Atkinsoniella likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. A style B aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view C subgenital plate, ventral view D pygofer, lateral view E aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view F pygofer process. Scale bars: 200 μm.

Atkinsoniella biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.

Figs 5A–E, 6A–E, 7A–E

Material examined

Holotype : • ♂, Nongdao Town, Ruili City, Yunnan Province, China, 755 m, 4 August 2020, coll. Xian-Yi Wang. Paratypes: • 1 ♂, the same data as holotype; 1 ♂ 4 ♀♀, Daweishan national forest park, Pingbian County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, 1158 m, 5 June 2019, coll. Tie-Long Xu.

Description

Length, male 5.3–5.4 mm, female 5.6–5.9 mm. Crown orange, posterior 1/2 with trapezoidal and yellow-white area medially, and one small drop-shaped black spot in center between ocellus, basal margin with triangular black spot medially and small triangular black brown spot below each ocellus, and coronal suture black with median discontinuous; eyes orange-black to black brown; ocelli grayish with black border distinctly; pronotum orange, with posterior 1/2 black, triangular orange macular area, concave medially, in center of black area, and one orange spot at each basal area laterally. Scutellum with three triangular black spots at basal margin and apical corner dark brown, lateral margin and transverse depression black, two small black spots above transverse depression; forewings green with yellow veins, clavus bordered with orange stripes laterally and connected with orange spots laterally on pronotum, apical membranous area black-brown; face with frontoclypeus and anteclypeus orange-yellow, muscle impressions and remaining areas dark brown, with one black spot above basal margin of antennal ledge; thorax pale yellow in ventral view, with two large black spots, legs yellow-white to gray-white, forelegs with femur and tibia orange-red, tarsus and pretarsus black-brown; abdomen yellow.

Crown with anterior margin rounded and convex; coronal suture distinct and equal to median length of crown; ocelli located slightly in front of imaginary line between anterior eye angles and tip of lateral clypeal suture, distance between ocellus equal to adjacent eye; pronotum wider than head, anterior margin rounded and convex, posterior margin with median concavity angular; scutellum with medial transverse depression slightly arcuate; forewings with distinct apical membranous area, base of second cells more proximal than third cells transversely; face with frontoclypeus flat medially, muscle impressions and clypeal sulcus blurred medially; males with one ostiole in center of base of each subgenital plate (marked by red circles in Fig. 5E).

Figure 5. 

External features of Atkinsoniella biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., male holotype A habitus, dorsal view B habitus, lateral view C face, anterior view D head and pronotum, dorsal view E apical portion of abdomen, ventral view (red circles indicates ostioles). Scale bars: 1000 μm.

Male pygofer broad, short, apex truncated, median of dorsal margin and posterior 1/2 with long macrosetae; pygofer process slender, arising basiventrally and extending along ventral margin of pygofer, slightly curved dorsally and just beyond pygofer apex posteriorly, median lamellar area broadened with membranous structure, apical 1/3 thin strip-shaped; subgenital plates with basal 3/5 broad, apical 2/5 narrow and bent dorsally, with one row of macrosetae uniseriate obliquely, long and short dense microsetae at outer lateral area of macrosetae; aedeagus warped medially and 8-shaped in lateral view, ventral margin articulating with dorsal margin of paraphysis medially; paraphysis slender and straight, tip dilated, apex teeth sharp and bent dorsally, articulating apically with aedeagus at apical 1/2; connective Y-shaped; style broad at basal 2/3 and tapered at apical 1/3, apex acute and incurved.

Figure 6. 

Male genitalia of Atkinsoniella biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. A style B aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view C subgenital plate, ventral view D pygofer, lateral view E aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view. Scale bars: 200 μm.

Female abdominal sternite VII, shorter than wide, posterior margin with median concavity; pygofer, in lateral view, produced posteriorly, posterior margin narrowly rounded with macrosetae at posterior portion and ventral margin; first valvifer longer than wide; first valvula apex acute, dorsal area with sculptured striae extending from basal portion of blade to apex; second valvula ventral preapical margin protruding, posterior portion arrow-shaped, blade with ~ 11 continuous large triangular teeth on expanded subapical portion and smaller teeth apically, all large teeth as well as ventral and dorsal margin of apical blade with denticles, ducts distributed in area of third teeth to apex of blade; third valvula basal 1/2 narrow and posterior 1/2 distinctly expanded, apex obtuse, and tiny setae distributed on apical portion and posterior 1/3 ventral margin of blade.

Figure 7. 

Female genitalia of Atkinsoniella biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. A apical portion of abdomen, ventral view B apical portion of abdomen, lateral view C first valvifer and first valvula, lateral view D second valvula, lateral view E second valvifer and gonoplac, lateral view. Scale bars: 1000 μm (A, B), 200 μm (C, D, E).

Distribution

China (Yunnan).

Etymology

The new species is named after the ostiole in the base of each subgenital plate.

Remarks

This species can be easily differentiated from other Atkinsoniella species by its color, markings, characteristics of the aedeagus, especially subgenital plates with ostioles, which is the first reported characteristics in subfamily Cicadellinae.

Key to species of Atkinsoniella Distant, 1908 from China (updated from Yang et al. 2017)

1 Forewing completely black A. nigripennis Yang & Li, 1999
Forewing not black or not completely black 2
2 Pronotum uniform black, without distinct spots or stripes 3
Pronotum not black or not completely black 20
3 Apical portion of crown with a median red spot A. xinfengi Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Crown without red spots 4
4 Forewing black with 2 brown-yellow longitudinal stripes A. guttata Li, 1993 (part)
Forewing black with red spots or stripes 5
5 Forewing with red longitudinal stripes 6
Forewing with red spots or macular area 10
6 Forewing with 2 red longitudinal stripes 7
Forewing with 3 red longitudinal stripes 8
7 Forewing with the 2 red longitudinal stripes completely disjunctive A. nigra Kuoh & Cai, 1994
Forewing with the 2 red longitudinal stripes connecting in the middle A. flavilega Yang, Meng & Li, 2017 (part)
8 Male head and frontoclypeus completely black A. nigrita Zhang & Kuoh, 1993 (part)
Male crown anterior margin and face yellow-white with black spots or stripes 9
9 Male vertex with a small black spot, face yellow-white without stripes A. nigridorsum Kuoh & Zhuo, 1996 (part)
Anterior portion of male crown with single median gray spot, frontoclypeus with black longitudinal stripe on each side A. fishtaila Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
10 Claval suture black, dividing forewing red spots or area into 2 parts 11
Claval suture black partly, forewing red spots or area complete piece 12
11 Forewing red area apex not exceeding the end of claval suture, frontoclypeus black A. lii Yang & Zhang, 2000
Forewing red area apex exceeding the end of claval suture, frontoclypeus black with a median yellow-white longitudinal stripe A. tuberostyla Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
12 Forewing red area long, apex exceeding the end of claval suture 13
Forewing red area short, apex not exceeding or only reaching the end of claval suture 14
13 Male pygofer process with a short horn-like branch at apical 1/3; paraphysis bifurcate at middle, clamping aedeagus A. nigriscens Yang & Li, 2004
Male pygofer process without branches; paraphysis not furcate with acute apex, preapical portion expanded laterally and with large dental process dorsally A . atrata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
14 Male pygofer process apex fork-like, paraphysis with apex longitudinally concave medially A. longiaurita Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Characters not as above 15
15 Apical 1/2 of male pygofer process with broad dorsal membranous lobe A. membrana Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process smooth, without membranous lobe 16
16 Male pygofer process curved dorsad at base 1/3, becoming straight near apex 1/3 A. recta Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process curved not as above 17
17 Male pygofer process particularly long, extending posteriorly farther than apex of pygofer A. longa Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process at most extending to apex of pygofer 18
18 Male pygofer posterodorsal angle finger-like, pygofer process right-angled and curved dorsad at middle A. rectangulata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Characters not as above 19
19 Male pygofer with apical portion raised dorsad, apicodorsal margin acute and fishtail-shaped; aedeagus apex not expanded A. biundulata Meng, Yang & Ni, 2010
Male pygofer with apical portion produced round-horned; aedeagus apex expanded A. expanda Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
20 Forewing without distinct spots or stripes 21
Forewing with distinct spots or stripes 53
21 Forewing black-brown, the joint area of 2 forewings orange-red, veins of costal margin and corium orange A. xanthovena Yang & Li, 2002
Characters of forewing not as above 22
22 Forewing of living body cyan, exsiccatae yellow-brown, forewing hyaline next to costal margin A. variata Young, 1986
Characters of forewing not as above 23
23 Pronotum with distinct spots or stripes 24
Pronotum without distinct spots or stripes 27
24 Scutellum tawny or orange, with basal black side spots 25
Scutellum black completely 26
25 Scutellum tawny, apex with a black spot A. sulphurata (Distant, 1908) (part)
Scutellum orange, apex without black spots A. longiuscula Feng & Zhang, 2015 (part)
26 Crown black, anterior 1/2 with a median yellow-white spot; inside eyes yellowish-white, region broad; male pygofer posterodorsal margin finger-like A. fuscopenna Yang & Li, 2004
Crown black, anterior 1/2 without median yellow-white spots, inside eyes yellowish white, region narrow; male pygofer posterodorsal margin angular A. guttata Kuoh, 1992 (part)
27 Basal portion of crown without median black spots 28
Basal portion of crown with single median black spot 31
28 Male pygofer process with apical 1/2 straightened posteriorly, exceeding apical margin of pygofer, without branch A. uniguttata Li, 1993
Male pygofer process with small branch at subapex 29
29 Apical portion of crown with large, median black squared spot; aedeagus broad and short, apex truncated A. cyclops (Melichar, 1914)
Apical portion of crown without black spots or only with a minimal spot; aedeagus not as above 30
30 Apical portion of crown without black spots, face yellowish brown, frontoclypeus with a median yellow-white longitudinal stripe; aedeagus with finger-like rounded tip A. duna Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Apical portion of crown without black spots or only with a minimal spot, face uniform yellowish white; aedeagus with acute tip not finger-like A. xanthoabdomena Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
31 Crown with 2 black, median, parallel rhomboid spots A. rhomboida Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Crown with none or 1 median black spot 32
32 Apical portion of crown without black spots, the spot of basal portion V-shaped A. curvata Yang & Li, 1980
Apical portion of crown with median black spot, spot of basal portion not V-shaped 33
33 Crown with large basal black spot, distinctly larger than anterior median one 34
Crown with small basal black spot, as large as or smaller than anterior median 35
34 Scutellum without black spots, forewing orange, subapical region orange-red or red A. wui Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Scutellum with a black spot in each basal angle, forewing ivory A. albipenna Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
35 Forewing ivory, base orange-red or red 36
Forewing orange, yellow-green, gray-brown, or red-brown except apical membrane 37
36 Abdominal venter black completely; male subgenital plate without macrosetae A. punica Yang & Li, 2002
Abdomen yellow, or yellow-brown, or only with black apex; male subgenital plate with uniseriate macrosetae A. longiuscula Feng & Zhang, 2015 (part)
37 Mesothethium with 2 large black or black-brown spots 38
Mesothethium without spots or stripes 44
38 Scutellum without black spots 39
Scutellum with a black spot in each basal angle 40
39 Male pygofer process slender; aedeagus narrowed to the end, apex acute A. multiseta Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process broad and long, tapering apically and bending inside; aedeagus with approximately parallel sides, apex round A. changae Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
40 Forewing gray-brown; male pygofer process with a small branch subapically A. zhangmuensis Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Forewing orange; male pygofer process without branches 41
41 Male pygofer process with apical 1/3 constricted and contorted 42
Male pygofer process normal, not constricted or contorted 43
42 Apical 1/3 portion of male pygofer process willow-leaf-shaped, straight; aedeagus broad and short A. flavipenna Li & Wang, 1992
Apical 1/3 portion of male pygofer process sickle-shaped; aedeagus slender A . liui Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
43 Frontoclypeus with a median thin tumor near apex; whole paraphysis curved dorsad A. rinkihonis (Matsumura, 1912)
Frontoclypeus without the tumors; paraphysis arched, apical 1/2 right-angled curved dorsad A. bowa Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
44 Male pygofer process with branch or toothed process subapically 45
Male pygofer process without branch or process 47
45 Male pygofer process with membranous branch; paraphysis curved dorsad from median portion, and with apical 1/3 curved posteroventrally A. yunnanana Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process with toothed process subapically, paraphysis curved not as above 46
46 Male pygofer with posterodorsal margin arc-shaped, apex of pygofer process thick; aedeagus slender, apical 1/2 straight A. thaloidea Young, 1986
Male pygofer process with posterodorsal margin roundly angular, apex of pygofer process thin; aedeagus stout, apex curved dorsad A. thalia (Distant, 1918)
47 Male pygofer truncated apically; pygofer process contorted and curved medially A. aurantiaca Cai & Kuoh, 1995
Male pygofer rounded apically; pygofer process not contorted or curved medially 48
48 Scutellum without spots and stripes 49
Scutellum with black or black-brown spot in each basal angle 51
49 Male pygofer process lamellate, posterior 1/3 portion broadly lamellate and twisted backwards, apex acute; connective V-shaped A. wangi Jiang & Yang, 2023
Male pygofer process slender, posterior 1/3 not as above; connective Y-shaped 50
50 Male aedeagus with posterior portion angular A. warpa Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male aedeagus with posterior margin truncate A. stenopyga Jiang & Yang, 2023
51 Head, thorax, and base of forewing ivory in dorsal view; male pygofer process broad and flat, apex beak-shaped, abruptly acute and slightly curved; aedeagus slightly curved dorsad medially A. beaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Head, thorax, and forewing orange-yellow or gray-brown in dorsal view; male pygofer process slender, apex not beak-shaped; aedeagus straight 52
52 Head, thorax, and forewing gray-brown in dorsal view; male pygofer nearly truncated apically, apical margin with minute dents, apical 1/3 portion of pygofer process abruptly narrowed; aedeagus with ventral tumor medially A. heae Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Head, thorax, and forewing orange-yellow in dorsal view; male pygofer with apex roundedly angular dorsad, apical margin smooth, pygofer process tapering to the end; aedeagus without ventral tumor A. tiani Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
53 Forewing dark yellow-brown, with muddy yellow or gray-white transparent or translucent spots A. huangi Yang & Zhang, 2000
Forewing not as above 54
54 Forewing black, with 3 longitudinal grayish white stripes; pronotum with 2 small black spots abreast in the center, and posterior area with 2 large black spots transversely A. yingjiangensis Jiang & Yang, 2023
Forewing and pronotum not as above 55
55 Forewing green, clavus bordered with orange stripes laterally, males with 1 ostiole in the center of the base of each subgenital plate A. biostiolum Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.
Forewing and subgenital plates not as above 56
56 Forewing white or gray-white, with brown or black-brown stripes 57
Forewing black with red or brown-yellow stripes, or forewing brown-yellow with black or yellow-brown stripes 58
57 Basal portion of crown with 工-shaped black stripe medially; forewing gray-white, costal margin, inner margin, and veins black-brown, broad longitudinal brown stripe along claval suture A. motuoensis Meng, Yang & Ni, 2010
Basal portion of crown with large black spot medially; forewing ivory, costal and inner margins black-brown, with longitudinal black-brown stripe parallel to costal and inner margins A. alcmena (Distant, 1908)
58 Scutellum completely black 59
Scutellum not completely black 85
59 Pronotum with 2 large white spots; forewing clavus with broad longitudinal white strip A. albimacula Yang & Li, 2002
Characters not as above 60
60 Forewing with red stripes or spots 61
Forewing without red stripes or spots 81
61 Forewing clavus base with red spot or short stripe, costal margin with or without orange-red stripe A. alternata Young, 1986
Forewing with red stripes not as above 62
62 Forewing with 2 longitudinal red stripes 63
Forewing with 3 longitudinal red stripes 72
63 Red stripes of forewing short, extending only to end of claval suture A. furipygofera Yang & Meng, 2011
Red stripes of forewing long, extending farther than end of claval suture 64
64 Forewing with the 2 longitudinal red stripes connecting in the middle A. flavilega Yang, Meng & Li, 2017(part)
Forewing with the 2 longitudinal red stripes completely separated 65
65 Male paraphysis with 3 toothed processes apically A. tridentata Yang & Li, 2011
Male paraphysis with single pointed process apically 66
66 Head and thorax with many small scattered red spots; caudodorsal margin of male pygofer not produced in angular or flat finger-shaped process A. rufistigma Yang, Meng & Li, 2017 (part)
Head and thorax without small red spots; caudodorsal margin of male pygofer produced in angular or flat finger-shaped process 67
67 Caudodorsal margin of male pygofer extended posteriorly forming angular process 68
Caudodorsal margin of male pygofer extended posteriorly forming flat finger-shaped process 70
68 Basal portion of crown with transverse black band; pronotum with 2 transverse red stripes medially; male pygofer process with flat angular process medially A. zaihuai Yang & Meng, 2011
Basal portion of crown without black strip, but middle portion of crown with 2 longitudinal black stripes across ocelli; pronotum with 2 large orange-red spots; male pygofer process without flat angular process 69
69 Face orange-red, frontoclypeus with small black spot medially, clypeal suture with triangular black spot; male pygofer process with apical 1/3 flat and broad, aedeagus slender A. angula Kuoh, 1992
Face black, frontoclypeus with a longitudinal orange-red stripe medially, anteclypeus with lateral orange-red spot, gena and maxillary plate yellow-white; male pygofer process strip-shaped, apical 1/2 tapering, aedeagus stout A. nigrosteaka Li & Wang, 1994
70 Crown black except muddy yellow posterolateral margin; red band of pronotum short and narrow A. xanthonota Kuoh, 1994
Crown muddy yellow or orange-red, basal and apical portion with black stripes; red band of pronotum long, width variable 71
71 Crown with 3 black spots, 1 at vertex, 2 under ocelli; red band of pronotum broad and long A. grahami Young, 1986 (part)
Crown with irregular transverse black bands on apical and basal portion; red band of pronotum slender A. rubrostriata Kuoh, 1992
72 Pronotum with an uninterrupted median transverse red band, face yellow-white without stripe A. nigridorsum Kuoh & Zhuo, 1996 (part)
Characters not as above 73
73 Frontoclypeus and anteclypeus black completely 74
Frontoclypeus and anteclypeus not all black 76
74 Median portion of pronotum with a transverse red band or several continuous red spots; red stripes of forewing broad A. transifasciata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Median portion of pronotum with 2 red spots or oblique stripes; red stripes of forewing narrow and thin 75
75 Two red longitudinal stripes on corium of forewing disjunctive completely, legs yellow-white A. yani Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Two red longitudinal stripes on corium of forewing joined at base, legs black A. insignata (Haupt, 1924)
76 Pronotum with 2 rounded red spots, frontoclypeus completely black A. nigrita Zhang & Kuoh, 1993 (part)
Pronotum with red spots not rounded, frontoclypeus not completely black 77
77 Crown with a large fork-shaped black spot on basal-median portion; frontoclypeus with a large lateral black spot; anteclypeus with a long median black stripe A. contrariuscula (Jacobi, 1944)
Characters not as above 78
78 Pronotum with a transverse red stripe medially A. mediofasciola Yang & Li, 2002
Pronotum with 2 transverse red stripes medially 79
79 Crown completely black A. goosenecka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Crown orange-red with black spots 80
80 Face yellow-white, but frontoclypeus with basal margin black, basal 1/2 with lateral longitudinal black stripe, whole inverted U-shaped A. hupehna Young, 1986
Face orange-red, with Y-shaped or T-shaped black stripes A. dactylia Yang & Li, 2000
81 Forewing yellow-green, costal and inner margins black, corium with 2 black spots A. nigricephala Li, 1992
Forewing black with orange stripes 82
82 Forewing with 4 large orange spots A. dubia Young, 1986
Forewing with 2 longitudinal orange or yellow-brown stripes 83
83 Crown yellow-brown, with 2 Y-shaped black stripes medially; face with lorum completely black A. flexa Kuoh, 1992
Crown with stripes not as above; face with lorum orange-yellow or only basal portion black 84
84 Crown black except yellow-white posterolateral margin and inner side of eyes; anteclypeus black, lorum black basally A. guttata Kuoh, 1992 (part)
Crown orange-red or orange-yellow, with 3 distinct black spots, 1 at vertex, 2 under ocelli; anteclypeus with a black spot basally, lorum orange-yellow A. grahami Young, 1986 (part)
85 Scutellum black with red spots 86
Scutellum without red spots 87
86 Pronotum bright red, anterior margin with a large median black spot, posterior margin with black boundary, median portion with or without black stripe linked; scutellum with a large red spot medially A. brevistyla Yang & Li, 2004
Pronotum black, anterior margin with 2 transverse red stripes or spots, median portion with 2 long transverse red stripes; scutellum with 2 or 4 red spots A. rufistigma Yang, Meng & Li, 2017 (part)
87 Forewing with red stripes 88
Forewing without red stripes 101
88 Pronotum date red, with 3 black spots arranged in regular triangle A. trimaculata Li, 1992
Characters not as above 89
89 Forewing with 3 longitudinal red stripes 90
Forewing with more than 3 red stripes 93
90 Male pygofer constricted medially, apex arrow-shaped A. cuspidata Meng, Yang & Ni, 2010 (part)
Characters not as above 91
91 Male pygofer process with thumb-shaped dorsal projection subapically A. jini Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male pygofer process without any projections 92
92 Male pygofer process with membranous lobe at apicodorsal margin; paraphysis narrow and straight, apex expanded and curved sickle-shaped, ventral margin deeply concave medially A. nigrisigna Li, 1992 (part)
Male pygofer process without membranous lobe, paraphysis with apical portion curved dorsad, apex acute A. heiyuana Li, 1992
93 Male paraphysis forked apically and clamping median of aedeagus A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Male paraphysis not forked apically 94
94 Male pygofer process extending posterodorsally, then posteriorly attenuated and sharply curved apically A. latior Young, 1986
Characters not as above 95
95 Aedeagus with paired flat dorsal triangular processes at middle A. dormana Li, 1992
Aedeagus with dorsal aspect straight 96
96 Apical portion of male pygofer peaked; apex of paraphysis extending posteriorly nearly to apex of aedeagus A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017
Apical portion of male pygofer not peaked; apex of paraphysis extending posteriorly only to middle of aedeagus 97
97 Dorsal margin of male pygofer with an angular flat process near base, aedeagus long, paraphysis with lateral produced flatly subapically A. limba Kuoh, 1991
Characteristics not as above 98
98 Dorsal margin of male pygofer straight, aedeagus short and dorsal margin near straight, paraphysis with apex tapered A . nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944)
Characteristics not as above 99
99 Aedeagus stout with posterior 1/2 relatively narrow and warped dorsally, aedeagus 2× wider than paraphysis in lateral view A . chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.
Aedeagus slender, aedeagus and paraphysis subequal in width in lateral view 100
100 Male pygofer process median lamellar broadened with membranous structure, apical 1/3 thin strip-shaped, acute at apex; paraphysis articulating apically with aedeagus at apical 2/5 A . likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov.
Male pygofer process dorsad membranous transparent apically, not acute at the apex; paraphysis articulating apically with aedeagus at apical 1/2 A . zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022
101 Forewing orange-yellow or brown-yellow, with black spots 102
Forewing black, with longitudinal orange-yellow stripes; or orange-yellow with black stripes 103
102 Apical margin of crown with black spot medially; forewing with 4 large black spots, 1 located at subbasal portion of clavus, other 3 located at subbasal, median, and subapical portions of corium, respectively A. sulphurata (Distant, 1908) (part)
Apical 1/2 of crown with a shawl-shaped black stripe; forewing with 3 black spots, 1 located at apical portion of clavus, others located at basal 1/3 and 2/3 portions of corium, respectively A. malaisei Young, 1986 (part)
103 Forewing orange-yellow, with a longitudinal black stripe medially 104
Characters not as above 105
104 Apical margin of crown with a black spot medially A. sulphurata (Distant, 1908) (part)
Apical 1/2 of crown with a shawl-shaped black stripe A. malaisei Young, 1986 (part)
105 Forewing with 2 longitudinal muddy-yellow stripes A. xanthovitta Kuoh, 1994
Forewing with > 2 longitudinal stripes 106
106 Body smaller, length < 5.5 mm; clavus orange-yellow, with a longitudinal black stripe medially A. opponens (Walker, 1851)
Body larger, length > 6 mm; clavus orange-yellow, without longitudinal black stripes medially 107
107 Male pygofer constricted medially, apex arrow-shaped A. cuspidata Meng, Yang & Ni, 2010 (part)
Male pygofer with apex curved dorsally, apical margin roundly produced A. nigrisigna Li, 1992 (part)

Discussion

Currently, the identification of Cicadellinae species is mainly based on their external morphology and male genitalia characteristics of adults. However, there are some species that exhibit similar external morphologies, but the characteristics of the male genitalia are obviously different, or the characteristics of male genitalia are similar, but external morphologies are different. These situations make the identification of some Cicadellinae species difficult at species level, especially for the female specimens. Atkinsoniella nigrominiatula (Jacobi, 1944), A. latior Young, 1986, A. limba Kuoh, 1991, A. dormana Li, 1992, A. divaricata Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. peaka Yang, Meng & Li, 2017, A. zizhongi Jiang & Yang, 2022, A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov., and A. likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. are similar in appearance but differ in their male genitalia. As the characteristics of female genitalia of subfamily Cicadellinae species are not obvious, those of the female specimens of A. chongqingana Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. and A. likuni Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. cannot be provided as the females have the same appearance, making their identification confusing; therefore, molecular methods are necessary to help solve these difficulties and provide more accurate species delimitations. In addition, the investigations into the biology and ecology may be good directions for better understanding the known and newly described leafhopper species in the future.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Li-Kun Zhong, Xian-Yi Wang, and Tie-Long Xu (Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University) for collecting specimens.

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32360125, 32360393), Guizhou Province Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team Project (Qian Ke He Pingtai Rencai - CXTD [2021] 004), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Guiyang Healthcare Vocational University (Guikangda K2024-4).

Author contributions

Conceptualization: YJ. Formal analysis: YJ. Methodology: XFY, YJ. Software: XFY, YJ. Supervision: MFY. Writing - original draft: YJ. Writing - review and editing: MFY.

Author ORCIDs

Yan Jiang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8980-5344

Xiao-Fei Yu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1362-9524

Mao-Fa Yang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5523-6825

Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.

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