Alafrasca sticta, a new genus and species of the tribe Empoascini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) with a checklist of the tribe from China

Abstract

A new monotypic genus of empoascine leafhopper, Alafrasca gen. nov. is described and illustrated for A. sticta sp. nov. from Sichuan, China as its type species. Habitus photos and illustrations of male genitalia of the new species are given. A checklist of the tribe in China is also provided.

Revision of the leafhopper genus Smyga (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae)

“…In her treatment of the type species, S. distincta , Dworakowska also described and illustrated some “aberrant specimens” that she excluded from the type series because she considered the small, ventrally positioned aedeagal shaft to be “not functional.” Here we recognize these specimens as a valid species: S. brevipenis sp. nov., as similar specimens of two new species have been seen in Xu’s (2019) PhD thesis.…”

“…Specimens of S. brevipenis were considered aberrant specimens of S. distincta by Dworakowska (1995) and of uncertain status. However, based on the high degree of difference between these two species and the discovery of two similar new species from Papua New Guinea noted in Xu’s (2019) PhD thesis, we describe the above specimens as a new species. All type specimens listed here (with some amendments) were identified by I. Dworakowska as the aberrant form of S. distincta .…”

“…Although species are very similar externally, there are considerable differences in their male genitalia, particularly with respect to the aedeagus, so much so that Dworakowska (1995) tentatively regarded one species, S. distincta , as having an aberrant form with a remarkably short aedeagal shaft. However, the discovery of two new species from Papua New Guinea in Xu’s (2019) PhD thesis, with similar aedeagus, suggests that the specimens described and illustrated by Dworakowska as an aberrant form represent a separate species. This new species is described and illustrated below and a checklist and key to the known species of the genus are presented.…”

Clarification of the Identity of the Tea Green Leafhopper Based on Morphological Comparison between Chinese and Japanese Specimens

“…Empoasca is by far the most species-rich currently recognized genus of Cicadellidae, with more than 1,000 species names (> 880 apparently valid) in 12 subgenera described so far [ 3 , 37 ]. Nearly 80 species in 5 subgenera are recorded from China [ 43 ]. Empoasca onukii is now a member of the subgenus Empoasca ( Matsumurasca ) which differs from other subgenera in Empoasca by the petiolate (stalked) or triangular third apical cell of the forewing, the presence of an angulate lateral projection at the base of the subgenital plate and the aedeagus often (but not always) with paired processes [ 44 ].…”