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One new species and three new records of the leafhopper genus Agnesiella Dworakowska (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China
expand article infoJunjie Wang‡, Wenya Ma‡, Yalin Zhang‡, Min Huang‡
‡ Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China

Corresponding author: Yalin Zhang ( yalinzh@nwsuaf.edu.cn )

Corresponding author: Min Huang ( huangmin@nwsuaf.edu.cn )

Academic editor: J. Adilson Pinedo-Escatel
© 2025 Junjie Wang, Wenya Ma, Yalin Zhang, Min Huang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Wang J, Ma W, Zhang Y, Huang M (2025) One new species and three new records of the leafhopper genus Agnesiella Dworakowska (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae) from China. ZooKeys 1238: 149-159. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1238.153092
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD076E13-E445-4A93-A550-5EB43E237FEE
Open Access

Abstract

One new species, Agnesiella (Draberiella) geminicruciata sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Agnesiella (D.) lidia, A. (D.) olena and A. (D.) magda are documented from China for the first time. A key to males of all known species of Agnesiella from China is provided.

Key words:

Auchenorrhyncha, identification key, morphology, new record, Typhlocybini

Introduction

The leafhopper genus Agnesiella Dworakowska (tribe Typhlocybini) is a species-rich group predominantly found in the Oriental region, exhibiting exceptional diversity in southwestern China. Agnesiella species are primarily associated with Alnus (Betulaceae) as host plants, although records indicate some species utilize Juglans (Juglandaceae) (Wang et al. 2024). Agnesiella was established by Dworakowska in 1970, with Typhlocyba aino Matsumura, 1932 designated as the type species. In the same publication, Dworakowska (1970) transferred three additional species from Typhlocyba (T. giranna, T. lyraeformis, and T. nitobella, all Matsumura, 1932) to Agnesiella. Subsequently, Dworakowska (1971) erected the subgenus Agnesiella (Draberiella), with Chikkaballapura quinquemaculata Distant, 1918 as its type species, differentiating it from the nominate subgenus by the presence of clustered setae on the pygofer side, typically divided into two groups, a feature absent in the nominate subgenus.

Currently, Agnesiella includes 56 described species distributed across the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. The nominate subgenus comprises 13 species, while the subgenus Draberiella contains 43 species (Wang et al. 2024).

In this study, we describe one new species and report three new records of Agnesiella from China, bringing the total recognized species count to 57, with 48 species now recorded from China. A taxonomic key to the Agnesiella species currently known from China is provided.

Material and methods

All specimens examined are deposited in the Entomological Museum, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China (NWAFU). The abdomens and genitalia were treated with hot 10% NaOH solution for 2 minutes to dissolve muscle tissue and stored in glycerine. Morphological observations and illustrations utilized an Olympus SZX10 microscope and an Olympus BH-2 drawing apparatus. Specimens were photographed using a Leica M205 microscope equipped with a Leica DFC425 camera, utilizing the Leica Application Suite (LAS) v. 3.7 software. Final image processing was performed using Adobe Photoshop 2024 (Adobe Systems).

Morphological terminology follows Zhang (1990), except for wing venation, which follows Dworakowska (1993).

Taxonomy

Agnesiella Dworakowska, 1970

Agnesiella Dworakowska, 1970: 211.

Type species.

Typhlocyba aino Matsumura, 1932.

Diagnosis.

Body with ground color ivory to brownish. Vertex-face junction usually with 2 sesame-like whitish patches; vertex usually with a pair of roundish black patches near the inner margins of the eyes. Pronotum usually with an oval dark longitudinal patch near center of anterior margin, and 1 or 2 pairs of dark lateral patches. Forewing basal 2/3 generally with brownish patches, patches at distal end of ScP+RA and MP’’+CuA’ veins, and 3rd apical cell usually brownish; brochosome area semi-transparent to reddish-brown with patches at both ends brownish to black.

Crown obtusely protruding medially, narrower than pronotum with length about 1/2 that of pronotum, and with anterior and posterior margins approximately parallel. Pronotum with anterior margin arched and posterior margin straight. Apical half of forewing narrowing gradually, with RP and MP’ veins confluent at the base and 3rd apical cell subtriangular. Hind wing transparent with R and MP veins confluent terminally.

Abdominal 2S apodemes developed and usually extending to 5th or 6th abdominal sternite. Male pygofer generally with 2 setal groups; posterior margin generally with digitiform process extending either dorsally or posteriorly, and a small protrusion bearing small rigid setae on upper part. Length of genital valve approximately 1/5 to 1/4 length of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate club-shaped, usually with slightly expanded distal end, outer margin usually narrowed subapically with a protrusion generally bearing few peg-like setae; apical half usually with small rigid setae and long, fine setae. Paramere usually with subapical processes varying in length, number and angle; caudal half with row of microsetae on outer side and row of sensilla pores on inner side. Connective Y-shaped with stem well developed. Aedeagal shaft slender, usually with lamellar or digitiform ventral processes and tooth-like end curling inwards; gonopore apical.

Remarks.

This genus shares similarities with Linnavuoriana Dlabola, 1958 in the presence of paired spots on the head and pronotum, and the absence of macrosetae on the subgenital plate. However, it is distinguished by a pair of black submarginal spots on the vertex, a process on the posterior margin of the male pygofer, and a process on the ventral margin of the aedeagal shaft.

Distribution.

Oriental and Palaearctic regions.

Key to males of Agnesiella from China

1 Setae not clustered on pygofer side (Agnesiella) 2
– Setae clustered and usually divided into 2 groups on pygofer side (Draberiella) 13
2 Pygofer side with a bifurcate process A. marginata Dworakowska
– Pygofer side with an unbranched process 3
3 Pygofer process without setae A. polita Huang & Zhang
– Pygofer process with setae 4
4 Paramere without subapical protrusion A. recurva Huang & Zhang
– Paramere with subapical protrusion 5
5 Paramere with 1 subapical protrusion 6
– Paramere with 2 subapical protrusions 7
6 Paramere with a subapical process directed away from apex A. hamaculeata Wang & Huang
– Paramere with a subapical process forming an obtuse angle with apex A. nigroflava Wang & Huang
7 Paramere with apex angle with upper subapical protrusion nearly equal to 90° A. juglandis Chou & Ma
– Paramere with apex angle with upper subapical protrusion significantly greater than 90° 8
8 Aedeagal shaft with incision on dorsal margin subapically A. buysi Dworakowska
– Aedeagal shaft without incision on dorsal margin subapically 9
9 Pronotum with dark brown patches on central area near posterior margin 10
– Pronotum without dark brown patches on central area near posterior margin 12
10 Pygofer with a long digitiform pygofer process A. nitobella (Matsumura, 1932)
– Pygofer with a short horn-like pygofer process 11
11 Forewing with patches separately at basal and apical cell areas A. lyraeformis (Matsumura, 1932)
– Forewing with patches separately at basal, middle, and cross-veins areas A. matsumurai Dworakowska
12 Paramere with 2 interlaced subapical protrusions A. protensa Huang & Zhang
– Paramere with 2 non-interlaced subapical protrusions A. giranna (Matsumura, 1932)
13 Pygofer process arising from posteroventral angle 14
– Pygofer process arising from posterior margin 32
14 Pygofer process with 2 branches A. rita Dworakowska
– Pygofer process unbranched 15
15 Paramere with 2 subapical protrusions A. roxana Dworakowska
– Paramere with 1 subapical protrusion 16
16 Aedeagal shaft without distinct ventral process 17
– Aedeagal shaft with distinct ventral process 18
17 Forewing with V-shaped patches in the middle A. innota Yan & Yang
– Forewing with separate patches at the basal and cross-vein areas A. glabra Huang & Zhang
18 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with 2 branches 19
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with 1 branch 23
19 Paramere with a subapical protrusion nearly as long as caudal apex 20
– Paramere with a subapical protrusion distinctly shorter than caudal apex 21
20 Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft with a long stalk A. furca Yan & Yang
– Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft without a long stalk A. mitrata Huang & Zhang
21 Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft arising directly from shaft in lateral view A. hastata Wang & Huang
– Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft arising separately from plate-like extension in lateral view 22
22 Pygofer process closely appressed to posterior margin of pygofer A. azra Dworakowska
– Pygofer process not closely appressed to posterior margin of pygofer A. bupa Dworakowska
23 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft arising from base of the shaft A. elongata Wang & Huang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft arising from apical half or middle of the shaft 24
24 Aedeagal shaft with a distinct plate-like expansion dorsally on subapical part 25
– Aedeagal shaft without a distinct plate-like expansion dorsally on subapical part 28
25 Aedeagal shaft with end of ventral process curved ventrally 26
– Aedeagal shaft with end of ventral process curved dorsally 27
26 Aedeagal shaft with a short digitiform end of ventral process A. erosa Yan & Yang
– Aedeagal shaft with a long digitiform end of ventral process A. gaura Huang & Zhang
27 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with a digitiform end A. stipitata Huang & Zhang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with a short horn-like end A. lata Huang & Zhang
28 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with serrated posterior margin A. eleganta Huang & Zhang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with smooth posterior margin 29
29 Aedeagal shaft with a short, horn-like ventral process at the middle A. magda Dworakowska
– Aedeagal shaft with a long digitiform ventral process directed ventrally 30
30 Pygofer side without long fine setae near posterior margin A. latusa Yan & Yang
– Pygofer side with long fine setae near posterior margin 31
31 Aedeagal shaft with subapical ventral margin irregularly undulated A. sinuata Yan & Yang
– Aedeagal shaft with subapical ventral margin not undulated A. apiculata Huang & Zhang
32 Pygofer process multi-branched 33
– Pygofer process unbranched 36
33 Pygofer process with 3 branche A. tridigitata Huang & Zhang
– Pygofer process with 2 branches 34
34 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with 2 branches A. chelata Wang & Huang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft plate-like 35
35 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with smooth posterior margin A. lidia Dworakowska
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with undulated posterior margin A. kamala Dworakowska
36 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft multi-branched 37
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft unbranched 47
37 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with 3 branches 38
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with 2 branches 40
38 Three branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft, each arising separately from common stem A. longisagittata Huang & Zhang
– Two outer branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft with common stem separate from innermost branch 39
39 Aedeagal shaft with innermost branch of ventral process extending to apex of the shaft A. savita Dworakowska
– Aedeagal shaft with innermost branch of ventral process extending to subapical part of the shaft A. irma Dworakowska
40 All branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft directed dorsally 41
– Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft separately directed dorsally and ventrally 43
41 Aedeagal shaft with apex of innermost branch of ventral process extending beyond apex of the shaft A. olena Dworakowska
– Aedeagal shaft with innermost branch of ventral process extending to subapical part of the shaft 42
42 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with two adjacent branches A. biprotrusa Huang & Zhang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with two relatively separated branches A. exigua Huang & Zhang
43 Aedeagal shaft with serrated middle part of dorsal margin A. ela Dworakowska
– Aedeagal shaft with smooth dorsal margin 44
44 Pygofer with a short, horn-like pygofer process 45
– Pygofer with a long digitiform pygofer process 46
45 Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft, each arising separately from common stem A. xantha Yan & Yang
– Two branches of ventral process of aedeagal shaft, each arising separately from shaft (Figs 25, 26) A. geminicruciata sp. nov.
46 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft with a lower branch curved toward the side of shaft A. digita Yan & Yang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft without a lower branch curved toward the side of shaft A. quinquemaculata (Distant, 1918)
47 Ventral process of aedeagal shaft extending to subapical part of shaft A. singuliprotrusa Huang & Zhang
– Ventral process of aedeagal shaft extending to apex of shaft A. galeata Wang & Huang

Agnesiella (Draberiella) lidia Dworakowska

Figs 1–4, 17

Agnesiella (D.) lidia Dworakowska, 1977: 38.

Specimens examined.

China • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Guangxi Prov., Langping, Mt. Cengwanglao; 106°22'50.73"E, 24°28'53.56"N; 1430 m; 23 Jul. 2021; X. Zhou coll.; NWAFU • 3 ♂♂; Sichuan Prov., Shimian, Liziping National Nature Reserve; 102°23'5.11"E, 29°1'20.76"N; 2000 m; 9 Aug. 2021; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU • 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Yunnan Prov., Baoshan, Gaoligong National Nature Reserve; 98°48'0.02"E, 25°18'5.93"N; 2000 m; 16 Jun. 2022; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU • 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Yunnan Prov., Dali, Mt. Cangshan; 100°8'5.46"E, 25°41'54.57"N; 2200 m; 24 Jun. 2022; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU.

Figures 1–16. 

External morphology of Agnesiella species 1, 5, 9, 13 habitus, dorsal view 2, 6, 10, 14 habitus, lateral view 3, 7, 11, 15 head and thorax, dorsal view 4, 8, 12, 16 face 1–4 A. lidia rec. nov. 5–8 A. olena rec. nov. 9–12 A. magda rec. nov. 13–16 A. geminicruciata sp. nov. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14); Scale bars: 0.5 mm (3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16).

Distribution.

China (new record) (Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan) , Vietnam.

Agnesiella (Draberiella) olena Dworakowska

Figs 5–8, 18

Agnesiella (D.) olena Dworakowska, 1977: 37.

Specimens examined.

China • 3 ♂♂; Xizang Autonomous Region, Rikaze, Jilong Port; 85°22'47.29"E, 28°16'38.35"N; 1920 m; 20 Jul. 2022; Q.Q. Xue coll.; NWAFU • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Yunnan Prov., Baoshan, Gaoligong National Nature Reserve; 98°46'57.29"E, 24°49'10.46"N; 2050 m; 18 Jun. 2022; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Yunnan Prov., Dali, Mt. Cangshan; 100°8'5.46"E, 25°41'54.57"N; 2200 m; 25 Jun. 2022; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU • 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Yunnan Prov., Lijiang, Xinzhu; 99°27'21.40"E, 27°17'41.71"N; 2500 m; 3 Jul. 2022; J.J. Wang coll.; NWAFU.

Distribution.

China (new record) (Xizang, Yunnan), Vietnam.

Agnesiella (Draberiella) magda Dworakowska

Figs 9–12, 19

Agnesiella (D.) magda Dworakowska, 1982: 132.

Specimens examined.

China • 2 ♂♂; Xizang Autonomous Region, Rikaze, Jilong; 85°19'40.26"E, 28°23'37.74"N; 2700 m; 17 Jul. 2022; Q.Q. Xue coll.; NWAFU.

Distribution.

China (new record) (Xizang), India.

Agnesiella (Draberiella) geminicruciata Wang & Huang, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/CE204A13-B17D-4EC7-9A2C-D3559DC50685
Figs 13–16, 20, 21–26

Description.

Body largely yellowish (Figs 13, 14). Face mostly dark brown, frontoclypeal area with dark brown transverse stripes, lorum ivory (Fig. 16). Vertex yellowish-brown medially, remaining parts yellowish, with a pair of blackish-brown patches. Pronotum with some blackish-brown patches, median area light brown; triangles dark brown, scutellum yellowish (Fig. 15). Forewing with one brown patch each at middle and apical part in basal 2/3, apical 1/3 smoky brown, brochosome area pale yellow with a blackish-brown patch at each end (Fig. 20).

Figures 17–20. 

Forewing of Agnesiella species 17 A. lidia rec. nov. 18 A. olena rec. nov. 19 A. magda rec. nov. 20 A. geminicruciata sp. nov.

Abdominal apodemes extending nearly to middle of 6th abdominal sternite (Fig. 21).

Male genitalia. Male pygofer with two longitudinal bands of long fine setae medially near ventral margin, and posterior band more elongate; posterior margin with a short horn-like pygofer process on the lower part, a medial cluster of small rigid setae (Fig. 22). Subgenital plate with expanded distal part, bearing some long fine setae and small rigid setae; a distinct protrusion subapically with peg-like setae apically (Figs 22–24). Paramere slender, with apex curving distinctly outward and a small subapical tooth on ventral margin (Figs 22, 23). Connective with central lobe (Fig. 23). Aedeagal shaft relatively straight, with lamellate lateral expansions (Figs 25, 26); ventral margin with two intersecting processes at the middle: right process longer, extending to shaft apex, and left process curves leftward to the shaft in posterior view (Fig. 26).

Figures 21–26. 

A. (D.) geminicruciata Wang & Huang, sp. nov. 21 abdominal apodemes 22 genitalia capsule, lateral view 23 paramere, connective and subgenital plate, dorsal view 24 apical 1/3 of subgenital plate, lateral view 25 aedeagus, lateral view 26 aedeagus, posterior view.

Specimens examined.

Holotype : China • ♂; Yunnan Prov., Puer, Ailaoshan National Nature Reserve; 101°15'55.50"E, 24°16'32.83"N; 2200 m; 6 Jun. 2022; J.J. Wang; NWAFU. Paratypes: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, same data as for holotype • 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Yunnan Prov., Luchun, Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve; 102°32'33.71"E, 23°2'2.24"N; 2050 m; 10 Jun. 2023; L. Lu; NWAFU.

Measurement.

Males, 3.15–3.28 mm (including wing).

Etymology.

This specific epithet is derived from the Latin words “gemini” and “crux”, referring to the two intersecting processes on the ventral margin of the aedeagal shaft (Figs 25, 26).

Remarks.

This new species closely resembles A. xantha Yan & Yang in the male genitalia, but can be distinguished by two intersecting ventral processes on the aedeagal shaft, each originating independently from the shaft (Figs 25, 26).

Additional information

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32070478) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (2015FY210300).

Author contributions

Data curation: JW. Funding acquisition: MH. Investigation: WM, JW. Methodology: YZ, MH. Resources: YZ, JW, MH. Supervision: MH. Validation: YZ. Visualization: WM, JW. Writing - original draft: JW. Writing - review and editing: MH.

Author ORCIDs

Junjie Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6611-1075

Wenya Ma https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6405-4435

Yalin Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1204-9181

Min Huang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7621-4863

Data availability

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

References

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