Relatively large, brown delphacids. Head including eyes narrower than pronotum. Submedian carinae uniting at apex of vertex. Fastigium in lateral view rounded. Dorsum of body with a milky longitudinal stripe from middle of vertex to middle of posterior margin of forewing. Median carina of frons forked at extreme base. Antennae cylindrical. Forewing with large, longitudinal, brown marking. Metabasitarsus longer than tarsomere 2 + 3 combined, calcar thin, tectiform, with many black-tipped teeth on lateral margin. Male pygofer in lateral view with laterodorsal angle produced, medioventral process absent. Diaphragm of pygofer narrow, dorsal margin produced dorsad. Suspensorium ventrally ring-like. Aedeagus tubular, long. Parameres fairly developed, apically convergent. Anal segment deeply sunk into dorsal emargination of pygofer, ring-like, caudoventral processes present or absent.

China (Guizhou, Taiwan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shaanxi), Japan.

Macropterous male: Body length: male 5.82–5.91 mm; forewing length: male 5.06–5.13 mm (n=2).

Color. General color brown. Ocelli reddish brown, eyes black. Dorsum of body with a milky longitudinal stripe from the junction of Y-shaped carina to the middle of posterior margin of forewing. Forewing yellowish brown, membrane has a large, longitudinal, fuscous marking from base of costal area to apex, veins fuscous, longitudinal veins ornamented with blackish brown granules. Abdomen fuscous. Fore and middle legs brown, hind legs yellowish brown, apices of spines on tibiae and tarsi black.

Structure. Head including eyes narrower than pronotum (about 0.81:1) (Figs 1, 3). Vertex shorter in midline than wide at base (about 0.82:1), narrower at apex than at base (about 0.78:1), lateral margins slightly concave in dorsal view, submedian carinae convex, originating from near 1/3 base of lateral carinae and uniting at apex of vertex (Figs 1, 3). Y-shaped carina distinct, basal compartment shallowly concave (Fig. 3). Fastigium rounded (Fig. 2). Frons longer in midline than maximum width about 2.05:1, widest above the level of ocelli, median carina conspicuous, forked at extreme base (Fig. 4). Postclypeus wider at base than frons at apex, post- and anteclypeus together approximately 0.86 × of the length of frons (Fig. 4). Rostrum almost reaching mesotrochanters. Antennae terete, nearly attaining middle level of postclypeus, scape longer than wide at apex (about 1.83:1), shorter than pedicle (about 0.52:1) (Fig. 4).

Figures 1–5. 

Kakuna taibaiensis Ren & Qin, sp. n. 1 male adult, dorsal view 2 male adult, left lateral view 3 head and thorax, dorsal view 4 frons and clypeus 5 metatarsus and post-tibial spur. Scale bars = 1.0 mm (Figs 1, 2); 0.5 mm (Figs 3–5).

Pronotum in midline slightly shorter than length of vertex (about 0.79:1), lateral carinae developed, slightly curved, not reaching posterior margin (Fig. 3). Mesonotum medially ca. 1.64 times longer than vertex and pronotum together, lateral carina almost straight, reaching posterior margin, median carina obscure apically (Fig. 3). Forewings long and narrow, longer than widest part about 3.35:1, widest in middle (Figs 1, 2, 16). Spination of apex of hind leg 5 (3+2) (tibia), 8 (6+2) (basitarsus) and 4 (2nd tarsomere) (Fig. 5). Metabasitarsus distinctly longer than tarsomere 2+3 combined (about 1.79:1), calcar shorter than metabasitarsus (about 0.77:1), thin, bearing 29 black-tipped teeth on lateral margin (Fig. 5).

Male genitalia. Male pygofer slightly wider ventrally than dorsally, laterodorsal angles roundly produced caudad; in posterior view with opening longer than wide, ventral margin shallowly excavated, medioventral process absent (Figs 6–9). Suspensorium ventrally ring-like, dorsally with a process at each side leading to the anal segment ventrolaterally (Fig. 14). Diaphragm narrow, mediodorsal processes fairly developed, pillar-like, basally with a broad common stalk, thence contiguous apicad, apical part separated and curved laterad, tips truncated (Figs 6, 8). Parameres fairly long, reaching to the level of anal segment, in posterior view contiguous basally, apical 2/5 convergent mesad, apices rounded, inner margins expanded and ornamented with denticles medially (Figs 6, 11, 15). Aedeagus tubular, arch-shaped in profile, moderately dilated near the base, near apex on the dorsal side to the ventral apex provided with small teeth, gonopore apical on the slightly membranous dorsal side (Figs 12, 13). Male anal segment deeply sunk into dorsal emargination of pygofer, ring-like, caudoventral processes absent (Figs 6, 7, 10, 11).

Figures 6–16. 

Kakuna taibaiensis Ren & Qin, sp. n. 6 male genitalia, posterior view 7 male genitalia, left lateral view 8 male pygofer, posterior view 9 male pygofer, left lateral view 10 anal segment, posterior view 11 anal segment, aedeagal complex, connective and parameres, left lateral view 12 aedeagus, dorsocaudal view 13 aedeagus, left lateral view 14 suspensorium, posterior view 15 parameres, posterior view 16 forewing. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (Figs 6–9, 11, 15); 0.1 mm (Figs 10, 12–14 ); 0.5 mm (Fig. 16).

Holotype. ♂ (macropterous, NWAFU), China, Shaanxi Province, Mt. Taibai, 13-VIII-2010, by light trap, coll. A. P. Dong. Paratype. 1♂ (macropterous, NWAFU), same data as holotype.

Unknown.

Unknown.

The species epithet is named after the type locality, Mt. Taibai in Shaanxi, China.

Known currently from the type locality in northwest China (Shaanxi Province).

Kakuna taibaiensis is similar to K. zhongtuana Chen & Yang (2010) in the male anal segment not produced caudoventrally, aedeagus not bearing spinous processes and mediodorsal processes of diaphragm having a common stalk basally. However, the new species differs from the latter in the mediodorsal processes fairly long, reaching to the level of anal segment (mediodorsal processes short, not reaching to the level of anal segment in zhongtuana), aedeagus curved ventrad medially in profile (aedeagus curved dorsad medially in profile in zhongtuana), parameres rounded at apex in posterior view, inner margins ornamented with denticles medially (parameres acute at apex and adorned with a nipple-like process medially along each inner margin in zhongtuana).

The Himalaya-Qinling-Huai River line is the most distinctive barrier and may serve as the division of the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions since the Pleistocene. However, the north-south transitional affects have been much more pronounced in species and a broad transitional zone has resulted (Zhang 2002). The new finding in this paper based on the specimens from Mt. Taibai (the main peak of Mts. Qinling in Shaanxi, China) confirms the suggestion of Chen and Yang (2010) that the members of the genus Kakuna have extended into the southern area of the Palaearctic Region. During our investigations of Delphacidae on Mt. Taibai, we found many species in this family have extended into the border of the two Regions which were traditionally thought to be confined in the Palaearctic or Oriental Region only, including some new species described in recent years (Qin 2007, Qin et al. 2012). We suspect that the delphacid fauna in this border area will be more extensive if more investigations are conducted.

Macropterous male: Body length (from apex of vertex to the tip of forewing): male 3.40–3.64 mm, female 3.44–3.90 mm; forewing length: male 2.72–2.96 mm, female 3.04–3.24 mm. Brachypterous male: Body length (from apex of vertex to the tip of abdomen): male 2.24–2.56 mm, female 2.64–2.96 mm; forewing length: male 0.99–1.08 mm, female 1.04–1.24 mm.

Color. General color of male (macropterous) blackish brown. Ocelli reddish black, eyes grayish black. Vertex anteriorly, frons, clypeus, lateral area of pronotum behind eyes black. Antennae yellowish brown except apex of scape and base of pedicle fuscous. Pronotum between lateral carinae and laterobasal angles sordid whitish. All carinae and margins of vertex, frons and clypeus whitish. Rostrum fuscous at apex. Mesonotum mostly dark brown, scutellum whitish apically. Abdomen dark. Legs brown to yellowish brown. Tegmina subhyaline, veins yellowish brown. Female with ovipositor brown. Male (brachypterous) with the same color as macropterous except pronotum, mesonotum and tegmina yellowish brown, abdomen of female mostly yellowish white, abdomen with small brown spots dorsally and ventrally on each segment.

Structure. Head including eyes slightly narrower than pronotum (about 0.92:1). Vertex shorter in midline than wide at base (about 0.62:1), narrower at apex than at base (about 0.89:1). Submedian carinae originating from near 1/4 base of lateral carinae, not uniting at apex of vertex. Y-shaped carina distinct (Figs 17, 19, 21). Frons longer in midline than maximum width about 1.64:1, widest above the level of ocelli, carinae conspicuous, median carina forked at basal fourth (Fig. 22). Postclypeus broader at base than frons at apex, postclypeus and anteclypeus together approximately 0.80 × the length of the frons (Fig. 22). Rostrum almost reaching mesotrochanters. Antennae terete, reaching frontoclypeal suture, scape longer than apical width (about 1.59:1), shorter than pedicle (about 0.64:1) (Figs 18, 20, 22).

Figures 17–22. 

Dicranotropis montana (Horvath, 1897) 17 macropterous male, dorsal view 18 macropterous male, left lateral view 19 brachypterous male, dorsal view 20 brachypterous male, left lateral view 21 head and thorax (macropterous male), dorsal view 22 frons and clypeus (brachypterous male). Scale bars = 1.0 mm (Figs 17, 18); 0.5 mm (Figs 19–22).

Pronotum shorter than vertex in midline (about 0.91:1), lateral carinae straight, not reaching to posterior margin (Figs 17, 19, 21). Mesonotum medially ca. 1.34 times longer than vertex and pronotum together, lateral carina reaching posterior margin, median carina obscure apically (Figs 17, 21). Macropterous forewings surpassing tip of abdomen approximately 2/5 of its total length (Figs 17, 18), longer than widest part (about 2.86:1). Spinal formula of hind leg 5–7–4, post-tibial spur shorter than metabasitarsus, sparsely with about 8 tiny teeth along hind margin.

Male genitalia. Male pygofer in profile wider ventrally than dorsally, anterior margin distinctly convex submedially (Fig. 24); in posterior view opening of pygofer obcordate, medioventral process absent (Figs 23, 25), below laterodorsal angle interiorly with a spine-like process on each side, transverse-directed (Figs 23, 25). Suspensorium n-shaped, dorsally arched medially with two small triangular processes on both ends (Fig. 31). Diaphragm broad, mediodorsal processes strongly sclerotized and laterally beset with many granulations, incised medially (Figs 23, 25). Opening for parameres large, dorsal margin nearly straight, lateral margins slightly sinuate (Fig. 25). Parameres long, contiguous at bases, narrowed and divergent apically, inner margins expanded subapically, in profile apical margin emarginated in two triangular processes (Fig. 27). Aedeagus tubular, short and broad, with five rows of teeth on surface, including four longitudinal rows and one transverse row basad of gonopore (Figs 28, 29, 30). Male anal segment ring-like, laterodistal angles produced into a short, stout spinose process on each side (Figs 23, 24, 26, 27).

Figures 23–34. 

Dicranotropis montana (Horvath, 1897). 23 male genitalia, posterior view 24 male genitalia, left lateral view 25 male pygofer, posterior view 26 anal segment, posterior view 27 anal segment, aedeagal complex, connective and parameres, left lateral view 28 aedeagus, left lateral view 29 aedeagus, right lateral view 30 aedeagus, dorsal view 31 suspensorium, posterior view 32 parameres, posterior view 33 macropterous forewing 34 brachypterous forewing. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (Figs 23–25, 27); 0.1 mm (Figs 26, 28–30, 32); 0.04 mm (Fig. 31); 0.5 mm (Fig. 33); 0.25 mm (Fig. 34).

23 ♂♂ 22 ♀♀ (macropterous) and 35 ♂♂ 46 ♀♀ (brachypterous), China: Hebei Province, Mt. Xiaowutai, 24-VI-2009, coll. D. Z. Qin.

China (Hebei), Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Mongolia.

Unknown.

Dlabola (1965) established D. tenellula Dlabola based on the specimens from Mongolia; Vilbaste (1965) described D. montana Vilbaste from Russia but it was regarded as a junior synonymy of D. tenellula Dlabola by Emeljanov (1977). Asche (1982) treated both D. tenellula Dlabola and D. montana Vilbaste as junior synonyms of D. montana (Horvath, 1897). However, the treatment of D. tenellula Dlabola was not accepted by Anufriev and Emeljanov (1988). Holzinger et al. (2003) studied the Dicranotropis species in central Europe, in D. montana (Horvath) part, they redrew the male genitalia of this species and noted: “according to Emeljanov and Gnezdilov (pers. common.), the central Asian Dicranotropis tenellula Dlabola, 1965 is not conspecific with D. montana (Horvath, 1897)”. After checking the specimens deposited in NWAFU, and also these illustrations of male genitalia provided by Dlabola (1965, 1997), Vilbaste (1965), Anufriev and Emeljanov (1988), Holzinger (1999) and Holzinger et al. (2003), we found D. tenellula Dlabola to be very similar to D. montana (Horvath) and very difficult to distinguish. We hope the status of D. tenellula can be reconsidered and firmly established using more advanced methods in the future. Here we consider D. tenellula Dlabola as a junior synonym of D. montana (Horvath).