Two new species of Membranacea Qin & Zhang from China (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Empoascini)

Abstract Two new species of the empoascine leafhopper genus Membranacea Qin & Zhang are reported from China: Membranacea hubeiensis Yu & Yang, sp. n. and Membranacea stenoprocessa Yu & Yang, sp. n.. A key to distinguish all species of the genus is provided.


Introduction
The Typhlocybinae genus Membranacea was established by Qin & Zhang in 2011 for three new species from China with M. spinata as its type species. Here we describe two new species from China and provide a key for the separation of all species. The examined specimens in this study are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China (GUGC).

Materials and methods
The methods and terminology follow Zhang (1990) except for the nomenclature of wing, for which we follow Dworakowska (1993). Male specimens were dissected with the MOTIC B1 SMS-168 SERIES. Figures were made using OLYMPUS CX41 and enhanced using Adobe Illustrator CS4. Pictures were taken with VHX-1000C and dealt with Adobe Illustrator CS4. The body length is measured from the apex of the head to the apex of the forewing.
Distribution. China (Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan) Remarks. This genus is similar to Alebroides Matsumura, Apheliona Kirkaldy, Nikkotettix Matsumura, Ghauriana Thapa, Matsumurama Thapa, Bhatasca Dwora-kowska and Luodianasca Qin & Zhang in having veins MP' and RP in the forewing arising from cell r and CuA in the hindwing branched apically. The genus differs from these genera in the pygofer having the dorsal margin strongly concave with a weekly sclerotized area, and from Alebroides, Apheliona, Ghauriana, Matsumurama, Nikkotettix in lacking the ventral pygofer appendage. The genus differs from Bhatasca in having the basal group setae of the subgenital plate located near the midlength of the dorsal margin and from Luodianasca in the absence of ventrally projecting anal tube processes, the abdominal apodemes well developed and the subgenital plate having setae in the basal group. It also differs from Bhatasca and Luodianasca in having the lateral macrosetae of the subgenital plate arranged in two rows submedially.

Key to species (male)
1 Aedeagal shaft with two pairs of flanges (Figs 11,18,29,34 General color reddish to yellowish orange. Eyes dark. Ocellus on anterior margin of crown, light brownish. Coronal suture brown margined with cream and with a yellowish brown spot on each side (Fig. 1). Face orange, paler on gena; some specimens with brownish stripe on anteclypeus (Figs 2, 3). Pronotum reddish orange centrally and posteriorly, with a median yellowish patch at anterior margin (Fig. 1). Scutellum yellow with basolateral triangles black margined with reddish orange; apex and sometimes a stripe medially, black (Fig.1). Forewing reddish orange, semi-transparent in basal 2/3 and yellowish, hyaline in apical 1/3. Abdomen brownish. Legs yellow except midlength of hind tibia, brownish. Ventral male abdominal apodemes broad, reaching segment IV or V, margins parallel or slightly divergent (Fig. 7). Pygofer with dorsal margin strongly concave, apex finger-like with few microsetae; dorsal bridge less than one-third of total length of pygofer (Figs 8,9). Subgenital plate broad, with an oblique line of ca. 14 macrosetae and ca. 40 microsetae in 4 irregular rows; outer margin slightly expanded at midlength and bearing five moderately long and stout setae forming the basal group (Fig. 10). Paramere narrowed from near midlength to apex, curved laterally with ca. 9 fine setae, apex with teeth and sensory pits (Fig. 14). Aedeagal shaft elongated, curved posteriorly, subapically with a flange on each side and a narrower flange each side of a single central spine on ventral surface (Figs 11, 12, 13); preatrium nearly half length of shaft (Figs 11, 13). Connective with base broad, apex narrow, apical margin deeply emarginate (Fig. 16).
Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality: Hubei.

Remarks.
The new species is similar to M. spinata Qin & Zhang, 2011, but can be distinguished from the latter by the different configuration of the aedeagal processes (compare Figs 11-13 with 17, 18) and by the more pointed apex of the male pygofer (Fig. 9). Colour as for previous species but face dorsally and postclypeus yellowish orange, paler on anteclypeus, lorum, maxillary plate and gena, some specimens with a brownish stripe on anteclypeus and ventrally on postclypeus (Figs 19,20,21).

Membranacea stenoprocessa
Ventral male abdominal apodemes broad, reaching the end of segment IV or V (Fig. 25). Pygofer with dorsal margin strongly concave, apex finger-like with few microsetae (Figs 26,27). Subgenital plate broad, with ca. 12 macrosetae and ca. 42 irregular microsetae in 3 rows; outer margin slightly expanded at midlength and bearing 6 moderately long and stout setae (Fig. 28). Paramere narrowed from near midlength to apex, curved, laterally with ca. 7 fine setae, apex with teeth and sensory pits (Fig. 31). Aedeagal shaft elongated, curved posteriorly, with a flange on each side at midlength, a broader subapical flange on each side and a central flange on ventral surface extending to near apex, flange margins smooth to slightly dentate; preatrium less half length of shaft (Figs 29,30). Connective with base broad, apex narrow, apical margin deeply emarginate (Fig. 33 Etymology. The new species name alludes to the single narrower ventral flange on the aedeagal shaft. Remarks. The new species is similar to M. plana Qin & Zhang, 2011, but differs from the latter in the more pointed apex of the pygofer and the slightly different shape of the aedeagal flanges with the lower dorsal pair slightly higher on the shaft (compare Figs 29,30 with 34,35). In one species of the genus (M. unijugata) there is variability in the aedeagus suggesting that the new species could represent a variation of M. plana. However, the differences seen between the two species are consistent in all the materials examined.