ZooKeys 346: 85–87, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.346.6392
Nomenclatural changes in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae)
Dao-zheng Qin 1, Si-han Lu 1, Li-fang Zheng 1, Yi-xin Huang 1
1 Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Entomological Museum, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, 712100, China
Citation: Qin DZ, Lu SH, Zheng LF, Huang YX(2013) Nomenclatural changes in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). ZooKeys 346: 85–87. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.346.6392
Abstract
One genus and species are synonymized in the tribe Empoascini of the subfamily Typhlocybinae. Bhatasca Dworakowska, 1995is a junior synonym of Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada, 1994, Bhatasca rectangulata Qin & Zhang, 2011is a junior synonym of Alebrasca actinidiae Hayashi & Okada, 1994. Furthermore, Bhatasca expansa is (necessarily) transferred to the genus Alebrasca.
KeywordsHomoptera, Auchenorryncha, taxonomy, leafhopper, synonym, China
Introduction
Empoascini is a large tribe in the leafhopper subfamily Typhlocybinae, comprising more than 1000 species and nearly 70 genera worldwide. However, the status of some established genera and species in this tribe remains dubious or misleading and needs further revision. In this study, one genus and one species are recognized as junior synonyms and we also propose one new combination in Empoascini. The purpose of the present paper is to clarify the taxonomy of the tribe.
Nomenclatural changes and notes
Family Cicadellidae
Subfamily Typhlocybinae
Tribe Empoascini
Alebrasca
Hayashi & Okada, 1994
http://species-id.net/wiki/Alebrasca
Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada, 1994: 267. Type species: Alebrasca actinidiae Hayashi & Okada, 1994, by original designation.
Bhatasca Dworakowska, 1995: 143. Type species: Bhatasca expansa Dworakowska, 1995, by original designation. syn. n.
Remarks.
Dworakowska (1995) established the genus Bhatasca based on the type species Bhatasca expansa Dworakowska, 1995 from Tsyr-feng in Taiwan, and Qin et al. (2011) described Bhatasca rectangulata based on the generic diagnosis provided by Dworakowska (1995). Until now, only two species were included in the genus, widely distributed in mainland China (Hunan, Henan, Gansu, Sichuan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi) and Taiwan. Based on investigation of the descriptions and illustrations by Hayashi and Okada (1994) and Dworakowska (1995) and Bhatasca material deposited in the Entomological Museum, Northwest A&F University (NWAFU), we recognize the genus Bhatasca Dworakowska is a junior synonym of Alebrasca Hayashi & Okada.
Remarks.
After checking the type specimens of Bhatasca rectangulata, we found the characters of wing, basal abdominal apodemes and male genitalia described by Qin et al. (2011) in mainland China are the same as those of the species described by Hayashi and Okada (1994). Furthermore, the distribution of Bhatasca rectangulata has nearly same latitude as the type locality of Alebrasca actinidiae Hayashi & Okada in Japan (central Honshu). Therefore, synonymy of the two species is confirmed here.
Remarks.
Dworakowska (1995) described this species in Bhatasca from Taiwan. We here transfer it to Alebrasca mainlybased on the characters of the head, the venation of fore- and hindwing, the basal abdominal apodemes and especially the configuration of the male genitalia.
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr Chris Dietrich (Center for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Survey, USA) and Prof. John Richard Schrock (Emporia State University, Emporia, USA) for reviewing the manuscript. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31270689).
ReferencesDworakowska I (1995)
Szara gen. nov. and some other Oriental Empoascini (Insecta: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae). Entomol. Abh. Mus. Tierk. Dresden 56(7): 129–160.
Hayashi M, Okada T (1994) A new typhlocybine leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) feeding on kiwi-fruit. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 29(2): 267–271.
Qin DZ, Liu Y, Zhang YL (2011) A taxonomic study of Chinese Empoascini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) (II). Zootaxa 2923: 48-58.