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Research Article
A new sharpshooter genus for Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellini) from China
expand article infoZe-hong Meng‡, Mao-fa Yang§, Yu-feng Zhou|
‡ Guizhou University; the Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Guiyang, China
§ Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guizhou, China

Corresponding author: Ze-hong Meng ( mengzehong@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Mick Webb
© 2016 Ze-hong Meng, Mao-fa Yang, Yu-feng Zhou.
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: Meng Z-H, Yang M-F, Zhou Y-F (2016) A new sharpshooter genus for Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Cicadellini) from China. ZooKeys 561: 21-29. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.561.6079
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:73503C33-5A11-4716-97EF-FD8906EB3F3C
Open Access

Abstract

A new genus, Sphinctogoniella, is described to accommodate Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li, 2002, its type species from China. Sphinctogoniella lingula (Yang & Li, 2002), comb. n. is re-described and illustrated. Differences between the new genus and Sphinctogonia Breddin, 1901 are tabulated.

Keywords

Auchenorrhyncha , leafhopper, Cicadellinae , new combination, taxonomy

Introduction

The Old World Cicadellinae genus Sphinctogonia Breddin, 1901 (type species: S. lineolata (Walker, 1857), Fig. 20) comprises currently nine species (Wilson et al. 2009) from Borneo, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia and China (Young 1986; Zhang and Kuoh 1993; Yang and Li 2002).

The generic placement of Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li (2002) from China is re-accessed based on examination of its type series and more recently collected material. Its shorter body size and different coloration and male genitalia from other congeners indicate that it is unsatisfactory to keep S. lingula in Sphinctogonia. In addition, we have found that S. lingula cannot be classified into any known cicadelline genus. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to erect a new genus to accommodate it together with its redescription.

Material and methods

The male and female genital structures were prepared according to the techniques described by Oman (1949) and Mejdalani (1998), respectively. The dissected parts are stored in small vials with glycerin and attached below the specimens. The morphological terminology adopted herein follows mainly Young (1986) and Dietrich (2005), except for the female genitalia (Nielson 1965; Davis 1975; Mejdalani 1998).

The type specimens and other specimens are deposited in the following institutions whose names are abbreviated in the text as follows:

GUGC Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China

BMNH The Natural History Museum, London, UK

FAFU Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China

Results

Sphinctogoniella gen. n.

http://zoobank.org/5B4E6341-797A-4F8D-AD0D-FAAB2C46BF49
Figs 1–6, 13–18, 26–32

Type species

Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li, 2002.

Diagnosis

The new genus can be recognized by the following combination of features: (1) head anteriorly broadly rounded with ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles; (2) forewing with membrane distinct, veins obscure; (3) male pygofer without processes, surface with macrosetae near posterior margin; (4) subgenital plates slender, apex acute; (5) aedeagus slender, articulating sub-basally with unpaired paraphysis; (6) paraphysis with long spiniform processes; (7) style slender, extending posteriorly well beyond apex of connective, apex curved, hook-shaped; (8) female abdominal sternum VII well produced from ligulate base.

Description

Length. 8.7–9.8 mm.

Coloration. Head and thorax dorsum and forewings orange-red to red, with black markings.

External features. Head (Figs 1–6) with anterior margin broadly rounded, median length slightly shorter than interocular width; crown with surface slightly convex, with fovea between ocelli and anterior angles of eyes; ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles, lateral frontal sutures extending onto crown, attaining ocelli; ocellus closer to adjacent eye than to each other; frontoclypeus flattened medially, muscle impressions distinct, anteclypeus convex longitudinally, apical margin sinuate, transclypeal suture indistinct medially. Pronotum (Figs 1, 4) slightly narrower than head, lateral margins divergent posteriorly, basal portion with transverse concavity, posterior margin slightly concave; mesonotum with surface of scutellum convex, transverse depression short and nearly straight; forewing with membrane distinct, veins obscure, base of second and third apical cells aligned transversely; hindleg with femoral setal formula 2:1:1.

Figures 1–12. 

Sphinctogoniella and Sphinctogonia habitus. 1–6 Sphinctogoniella lingula (Yang & Li, 2002): 1–3 male (9.0 mm) 1 dorsal view 2 lateral view 3 ventral view 4–6 female (9.5 mm): 4 dorsal view 5 lateral view 6 ventral view 7–12 Sphinctogonia lacta Zhang & Kuoh, 1993: 7–9 male (15.9 mm) 7 dorsal view 8 lateral view 9 ventral view 10–12 female (16.7 mm) 10 dorsal view 11 lateral view 12 ventral view.

Male genitalia. Male pygofer lobes tapered to apex (Fig. 13), without processes, with macrosetae near posterior margin. Subgenital plates (Fig. 14) tapered to acute apex, distal half with uniseriate macrosetae medially and some short microsetae laterally. Aedeagus (Figs 15, 16) slender, articulating at its base with subapical part of paraphysis; gonopore apical on dorsal surface. Paraphysis (Figs 15, 16) unpaired with long spiniform processes. Connective (Fig. 17) broadly V-shaped. Style (Fig. 18) slender, extending posteriorly well beyond apex of connective, apex curved, hook-shaped.

Figures 13–25. 

Sphinctogoniella and Sphinctogonia male genitalia. 13–18 Sphinctogoniella lingula (Yang & Li, 2002): 13 pygofer, lateral view 14 subgenital plate, ventral view 15 aedeagus and paraphysis, ventral view 16 connective, aedeagus and paraphysis, lateral view 17 connective, ventral view 18 style, ventral view 19–23 Lateral view of aedeagus and paraphysis: 19 Sphinctogonia lacta Zhang & Kuoh, 1993 20 S. lineolata (Walker, 1857) 21 S. comitatula Melichar, 1926 22 S. servula Breddin, 1901 23 S. avia Young, 1986 24–25 Sphinctogonia lacta Zhang & Kuoh, 1993: 24 pygofer, lateral view 25 subgenital plate, ventral view. 19–23 from Young (1986).

Female genitalia. Sternite VII (Fig. 26) produced from ligulate base. Pygofer (Fig. 27), in lateral view, moderately produced; surface with macrosetae on posterior portion and ventral margin. Valvulae I (Figs 28, 29) of ovipositor, in lateral view, slightly expanded near apex; dorsal area with strigate sculpture in oblique lines extending from basal curvature to apex; ventral sculptured area restricted to apical portion, formed mostly by scale-like sculpture; apex of shaft acute. Valvulae II (Figs 30–32) of ovipositor, in lateral view, expanded beyond basal curvature; dorsal and ventral margins slightly convex; apex acute; preapical ventral prominence absent; 23 stout subtriangular teeth distributed from basal expanded portion to apical portion of shaft; teeth and apical portion of shaft bearing denticles. Gonoplacs, in lateral view, with basal half narrow and apical half distinctly expanded; apex rounded; surface with few setae on apical portion.

Figures 26–36. 

Sphinctogoniella and Sphinctogonia female genitalia. 26–32 Sphinctogoniella lingula (Yang & Li, 2002): 26 sternite VII, ventral view 27 pygofer, lateral view 28 valvula I, lateral view 29 apical portion of valvula I, lateral view 30 valvula II, lateral view 31 teeth of median portion of valvula II, lateral view 32 apical portion of valvula II, lateral view 33–36 Sphinctogonia lacta Zhang & Kuoh, 1993: 33 pygofer, lateral view 34 valvula II, lateral view 35 teeth of median portion of valvula II, lateral view 36 apical portion of valvula II, lateral view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Distribution

China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou).

Etymology

The generic name is derived from Sphinctogonia. The gender of the genus is feminine.

Remarks

In Young’s (1986) key to genera of the Old World Cicadellini the new genus runs to Nanatka Young, 1986, but differs from this genus in having a greater body size, the hindleg with femoral setal formula 2:1:1, the subgenital plates slender and acute apically (Fig. 14), and the paraphysis with long spiniform processes subapically (Figs 15, 16). Although the new genus also shares similarities with Sphinctogonia Breddin, 1901, such as the roundly produced head (Figs 1 and 4) and the male pygofer without processes (Fig. 13), it differs in the various features shown in Table 1.

Table 1.
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Differences between Sphinctogoniella gen. n. and Sphinctogonia Breddin, 1901.

Sphinctogoniella gen. n. Sphinctogonia Breddin, 1901
body size 8.7–9.8 mm 12.8–18.6 mm
pronotum not constricted clearly constricted
forewing with distinct apical membrane, veins obscure apical membrane absent, veins distinct
hindleg femoral setal formula 2:1:1 variable
male pygofer slightly produced, with macrosetae on posterior area moderately produced, with small weak setae on posterior and ventral area
subgenital plates slender and acute apically; with uniseriate macrosetae medially and some short microsetae often spine-like apically; with group of small weak setae, usually not arranged in rows
paraphysis spoon-shaped in lateral view; with long spiniform processes subapically (Figs 15, 16) usually boat-shaped in lateral view; without long processes, or with small teeth apically (Figs 19–23)
female pygofer angular apically, with macrosetae on apical and ventral area (Fig. 27) round apically, with small setae near apical and ventral area (Fig. 33)
valvula II bearing less than 30 teeth on dorsal margin of blade (Fig. 30) bearing many teeth (more than 50) on dorsal margin of blade (Fig. 34)

Sphinctogoniella lingula (Yang & Li, 2002), comb. n.

Figs 1–6, 13–18, 26–32

Sphinctogonia lingula Yang & Li in Li & Jin, 2002: 176.

Description

Length of males 8.7–9.5 mm, females 9.0–9.8 mm.

Coloration. Head and thorax dorsum and forewings orange-red to red, eyes and ocelli black. Head with two round black spots at apex; crown with anterior two black spots in front of ocelli, median portion with small black spot; basal margin with two connected triangular or trapeziform black spots behind ocelli. Pronotum with transverse anterior and posterior four black spots, anterior median two connecting with basal two black spots of crown, posterior median two connecting with black spots of basal angles of mesonotum; mesonotum with triangular black spots on basal angles, scutellum with large black spot; forewing with two longitudinal slender black stripes medially, basal angle black, apical membrane black brown, inner and outer margins black brown. Face orange yellow or off-white, apical portion of frontoclypeus with pair of lateral large black spots; anteclypeus with apico-median black marking in some specimens. Thoracic venter black brown to black, legs pale yellow brown. Abdominal venter black, sternites of posterior margin yellow white.

Male genitalia. Male pygofer lobes tapered to apex (Fig. 13) without process, with macrosetae near posterior margin. Subgenital plates (Fig. 14) tapered to acute apex, distal half with uniseriate macrosetae medially and some short microsetae laterally. Aedeagus (Figs 15, 16) slender, in lateral view curved ventrally, of similar width throughout length with apex truncate; in ventral view broad basally tapered to near apex then expanded apically with a pair of triangular flaps; articulating at its base with subapical part of paraphysis; gonopore apical on dorsal surface. Paraphysis (Figs 15, 16) un-paired, with ventral surface of distal half concave with three elongate spiniform processes, curved dorsally. Connective (Fig. 17) broadly V-shaped. Style (Fig. 18) slender, extending posteriorly well beyond apex of connective, apex curved, hook-shaped.

Female genitalia. Sternite VII (Fig. 26) ligulately produced, posterior margin with shallow concavity medially; internal sternite VIII membranous. Pygofer (Fig. 27), in lateral view, moderately produced; posterior margin with a subtriangular apical lobe; surface with macrosetae on posterior portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin beyond its midlength. Valvifers I, in lateral view, nearly oval, bases slightly narrower. Valvifers II with small group of clustered setae near articulation point. Valvulae I (Figs 28, 29) of ovipositor, in lateral view, slightly expanded near apex; dorsal sculptured area extending from basal curvature to apex, broader near apex, formed by scale-like processes arranged in oblique lines; ventral sculptured area restricted to apical portion, formed mostly by scale-like processes; apex of shaft acute; dorsal margin forming denticles on apical portion of shaft. Valvulae II (Figs 30–32) of ovipositor, in lateral view, well expanded beyond basal curvature; dorsal and ventral margins slightly convex; apex acute; preapical prominence absent; approximately 23 teeth distributed from basal expanded portion to apical portion of shaft; all teeth subtriangular, basal teeth with superior angle slightly rounded, later with flat posterior area; median teeth strongly produced; apical portion with dentate dorsal margin longer than ventral margin; ducts extending toward teeth and toward apical portion of shaft. Gonoplacs, in lateral view, with basal half narrow and apical half distinctly expanded; apex rounded; surface with few setae on apical portion.

Distribution

China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou).

Material examined

1♂ (Holotype, FAFU), China, Fujian Province, Jianyang County, 7 April 1960, coll. Ma Cheng-lin; 1♀ (BMNH), China, Fujian Province, Yongan, Tianbaoshan, 17 May 2012, coll. Chang Zhi-min; 1♀ (GUGC), China, Fujian Province, Shilin County, 21 May 2012, coll. Long Jian-kun; 1♀ (Paratype, GUGC), China, Guangxi Province, Huaping, 5 June 1997, coll. Yang Mao-fa; 1♀ (GUGC), China, Guangxi Province, Huaping, 13 May 2014, coll. Qu Ling, Wu Yun-fei and Yang Hang; 1♂ (GUGC), China, Guangxi Province, Guilin, 26 April 2012, coll. Yang Zai-hua; 1♂ (BMNH), China, Guangxi Province, Guilin, 26 April 2012, coll. Zheng Wei-bin; 3♀♀ (Paratype, GUGC), China, Guizhou Province, Maolan, 26–30 May 1998, coll. Li Zi-zhong and Wang Lian-min; 3♂♂ (GUGC), 5♀♀ (GUGC), China, Guizhou Province, Daozhen County, Dashahe, 22–27 May 2004, coll. Song Qiong-zhang, Zhang Bin, Xu Fang-ling and Xu Pian; 1♀ (GUGC), China, Guizhou Province, Shibing County, Yuntaishan, 20 May 2009, coll. Yang Zai-hua.

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Ma Cheng-lin, Chang Zhi-min, Long Jian-kun, Qu Ling, Wu Yun-fei, Yang Hang, Yang Zai-hua, Zheng Wei-bin, Li Zi-zhong, Wang Lian-min, Song Qiong-zhang, Zhang Bin, Xu Fang-ling and Xu Pian for collecting materials used in this study. Sincere thanks Mick Webb (The Natural History Museum, London, UK) and Gabriel Mejdalani (Departamento de Entomologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) for reading the manuscript and making some corrections, various suggestions, and comments. This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31301912; 30770253), the Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou Province (J-[2013]-2157), the National Specialized Research Fund for Basic Science of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2006FY120100), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-07-0221), the Program of Science and Technology Innovation Talents Team, Guizhou Province (20144001), the Provincial Outstanding Graduate Program for Agricultural Entomology and Pest Control (ZYRC-[2013]-010), and the Provincial Foundation for Excellent Youth in Science and Technology Field of Guizhou (20050517).

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