Review of the grassland leafhopper genus Exitianus Ball (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae, Chiasmini) from China.

The two Chinese species of the leafhopper genus Exitianus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Chiasmini) (Exitianus indicus (Distant) and Exitianus nanus (Distant)) are reviewed. Descriptions of the species and a key for their separation are provided. Exitianus fulvinervis Li & He is considered a junior synonym of Exitianus nanus syn. n.

Introduction

Among the most widespread and often abundant tropical and temperate species of grassland leafhoppers are the moderately large tawny forms comprising the genus Ball. It contains 43 species of which 6 species occur in Asia. Members of the genus are most readily distinguished by usually having a transverse dark band on the vertex (Plate II: A–E), males with a small number of apical stout setae on the pygofer (Figs 1A–D) and the female with a relatively long ovipositor extending conspicuously beyond the last dorsal segment (Plate I: D). These characters are shared only by the presumably sister PageBreakgenus Matsumura, but which differs in having the crown sharply ridged where it meets the face, and being opaque green with various black markings.

Plate II.

.A–E habitus, dorsal view F face G the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

Figure 1.

.A–D male pygofer side, lateral view E–F subgenital plate, ventral view G valve, ventral view H connective, dorsal view.

Plate I.

.A–B habitus, dorsal view C face D the end of female abdomen, ventral view.

This study reviews for the first time the species of from China. From using the revision of Ross (1968) we identify two species ( (Distant) and (Distant)) but have found and figured further variation in the male genitalia to that given by Ross for the two species. With respect to these findings allow us to place Li & He, from China, as a junior synonym. As our work includes the study of numerous specimens we conclude that the remaining three species recorded from China, i.e., (Stål) by Matsumura (1914: 186), (Distant) by Li et al. (2011: 69, fig. 57) and (de Motschulsky) by Kuoh (1966: 143, fig. 133) are probably misidentifications.

Material examined

Material examined is deposited in the Entomological Museum of Northwest A & F University (NWAFU) and the Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS). Morphological terminology follows Oman (1949) and Zhang (1990).

Taxonomy

Ball

http://species-id.net/wiki/Exitianus

Exitianus Ball, 1929: 5. Type species:

Mimodrylix Zachvatkin, 1935: 108. Type species:

Exitianus ;

Exitianus ; Oman et al. 1990: 213 [Listed;

Exitianus ;

Exitianus ;

Exitianus ;

Exitianus ;

Remarks.

An adequate description of this genus is given by Ross (1968). See introduction for the main distinguishing features. The two species from China can be separated by the following key.

(Distant)

http://species-id.net/wiki/Exitianus_nanus

Plate I , Figures 1 –2

Figure 2.

.A style, dorsal view B, C aedeagus, ventral and lateral view, respectively.

Athysanus nanus Distant, 1908: 345.

Athysanus insularis ;

Athysanus fasciolatus ;

Athysanus simillimus ;

Athysanus vulnerans ;

Limotettix albipennis ;

Limotettix unifasciata ;

Athysanus digressus ;

Exitianus nanus ;

Exitianus karachiensis ;

Exitianus peshawarensis ;

Exitianus minor ;

Exitianus fulvinervis ;

Description.

Length. Male: 3.0–4.1mm; female: 3.9–5.2mm.

Yellow-brown with variable brown markings on vertex comprising spots on anterior margin and a more posterior arcuate band interrupted medially (Plate I: A–B); frontoclypeus with faint brown lateral arcs (Plate I: C). Pronotum usually with some dark infuscation (Plate I: A–B). Scutellum with dark brown basal triangles (Plate I: A–B).

Crown width about 3× length (Plate I: A–B).

Male genitalia. Pygofer side usually with 2–6 apical brown or black macrosetae (Figs 1A–D). Style preapical lobe broadly triangular, apophysis evenly tapered to apex PageBreak(Fig. 2A). Aedeagal shaft slightly laterally compressed with small subapical dorsal gonoduct (Fig. 2C); without processes (Figs 2B–C).

Female. Sternite VII with posterior margin tri-lobed (Plate I: D).

Material examined.

China: Zhejiang Prov.: 1 female, Wuyanling, 2.VIII.2005, coll. DY; Fujian Prov.: 8 males, 15 females, Wuyishan, Nantan, 12.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; 41 males, 48 females, Guangze County, 23.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; Jiangxi Prov.: 16 males, 5 females, Anfu County, 10.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; Henan Prov.: 1 male, Baiyunshan, 17.VIII.2008, coll. LL; Hunan Prov.: 1 female, Hengshan, 30.VIII.1980, coll. TX; Guangdong Prov.: 1 male, 1 female, Shenzhen City, VIII.1986, coll. ZY; Guangxi Prov.: 1 female, Fangcheng City, 3.VI.2000, coll. Li Wenzhu (IZCAS); Hainan Prov.: 10 males, 2 females, Liangyuan, 10/29.V.1983, coll. ZY; 1 male, Wuzhishan, 640m, 16.V.2007, coll. DY; 2 males, 5 females, Jianfengling, 22.VII.2010, coll. WY; 4 males, Wuzhishan City, Maoyang Town, 3.VIII.2010, coll. Sun Jing; 3 females, Yinggeling, 4.VIII.2010, coll. WY; 30 males, 40 females, Bawangling, 9.VIII.2010, coll. WY; 7 males, 2 females, Limu, 933m, 22.VIII.2010, coll. WY; 61 males, 30 females, Tongguling, 26.VIII.2010, coll. WY; Yunnan Prov.: 1 male, Mengla County, Yaoqu Town, 660m, 3.V.1991, coll. Liu Guanchun & Cai Wanzhi; 1 male, Mengla County, Yaoqu Town, 18.VI.1991, coll. WT; 2 females, Mengla County, Menglun, 19.V.1991, coll. WT; 2 males, Jinghong City, Jinghong County, 30.VIII.2010, coll. Han Juan; 1 male, Jinghong City, Jinghong County, 23.X.2010, coll. Chai Yonghui & Feng Jinian; 1 male, Menglian County, 971m, 24.V.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Lancang County, 25.V.2011, coll. PageBreakLL; 2 males, Yexianggu, 1226m, 9.VI.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Zhenyuan County, 13.VI.2011, coll. LL. All deposited in NWAFU, except where indicated and mainly collected at light. Abbreviations for collectors: DY: Duan Yani; SQ: Sun Qinxia; LL: Lu Lin; TX: Tong Xinwang; ZY: Zhang Yalin; WY: Wang Yang; WT: Wang Yinglun & Tian Rungang.

Distribution.

Eastern Hemisphere.

was described by Li & He (1993) based on specimens collected from Tibet. As these fall within the variation found in , the two species are here synonymised.

(Distant)

http://species-id.net/wiki/Exitianus_indicus

Plate II , Figures 3 –6

Figure 3.

. A–J male pygofer side, lateral view from the same specimen, respectively.

Figure 4.

. A–H male pygofer side, lateral view.

Figure 5.

. A–C subgenital plate, ventral view D valve, ventral view E style, dorsal view F connective, dorsal view G aedeagus, dorsal view.

Figure 6.

. A–G aedeagus, lateral view A, B (after Ross, 1968)

Athysanus indicus Distant, 1908: 344.

Athysanus atkinsoni ;

Exitianus indicus ;

Exitianus major ;

Length. Male: 4.0–4.5mm; female: 4.0–5.2mm.

Yellow-brown with variable transverse arcuate brown band on vertex (Plate II: A–E); frontoclypeus with faint brown lateral arcs (Plate II: F). Scutellum with faint brown basal triangles (Plate II: A–E).

Male genitalia. Pygofer side usually with 2–3 apical brown or black macrosetae (Figs 3–4). Style preapical lobe narrowly triangular, apophysis abruptly tapered at apex (Fig. 5E). Aedeagal shaft strongly laterally compressed, gonopore large with rim forming concave margin in lateral view; with pair of small dorsobasal processes (Figs 5G, 6).

Female. Sternite VII with posterior margin with a shallow notch in mid-line (Plate II: G).

China: Jilin Prov.: 1 male, Lingjiang City, 30.VII.1983, coll. Wu Zhengliang & Hua Baozhen; Zhejiang Prov.: 21 males, 10 females, Wuyanling, 400m, 1.VIII.2005, coll. DY; Fujian Prov.: 1 male, Wuyishan, Nantan, 18.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; 2 males, Guangze County, 24.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; 1 male, Wuyishan Sanggang, 19.VII.2006, coll. YM; 41 males, 10 females, Shanghang County, Buyun Town, 21.VII.2009, coll. CY; 3 males, 1 female, Wuyishan, Tongmucun, 7.VIII.2009, coll. CY; Jiangxi Prov.: 34 males, PageBreak10 females, Anfu County, 10.VIII.2002; 4 males, 4 females, Ruijin City, Baying Town, 280m, 15.VIII.2004, coll. WC & YM; 7 males, 6 females, Pingxiang City, Lianhua County, 4.VIII.2002, coll. SQ; Henan Prov.: 1 male, Jigongshan, 11.VII.1997, coll. SQ; 1 male, Ruijin City, Baying Town, 280m, 15.VIII.2004, coll. WC & YM; 1 male, Baiyunshan, 17.VIII.2008, coll. LL; Hubei Prov.: 1 male, Wudangshan, 22.VII.2001, coll. Huang Min & Zhang Guiling; Hunan Prov.: 1 male, Chenzhou City, 28.VIII.1985, coll. ZY & Chai Yonghui; 9 males, 3 females, Changde City, Huanan Factory, 22.VII.2002, coll. SQ; 6 PageBreakmales, Zhangjiajie, 25.VII.2002; Guangdong Prov.: 1 male, Dianbai County, 13.IV.1983, coll. ZY; 1 male, Shenzhen, 18.IV.1983, coll. ZY; 1 male, Dinghushan, 7.VII.1985, coll. ZY; Guangxi Prov.: 10 males, 4 females, Huaping, 9.VIII.2000, coll. LZ; 1 male, Huaping, 26.VIII.2000, coll. LZ; 5 males, Fangchenggang City, Naqin Town, 1–3.VIII.2001, coll. He Zhiqiang; 13 males, 6 females, Xinzhai, 18.VIII.2005, coll. YM & KJ;1 male, Yuanbaoshan, 12.VIII.2006, coll. YM & KJ; Hainan Prov.: 10 males, 5 females, Yacheng, 6.V.1983, coll. ZY; 1 male, Wuzhishan, 720m, 31.VII.2009, coll. Gaoxia; 1 male, Bawangling, 9.VIII.2010, coll. WY; 1 male, Tongguling, 26.VIII.2010, coll. WY; Sichuan Prov.: 2 males, 9 females, Kangding, 2500m, 8.XI.1999, coll. Qin Daozheng; 2 males, 8 females, Zhubalong, 2450m, 11.VII.2011, coll. Sun Qiang; Guizhou Prov.: 5 males, Guiyang City, Huaxi Park, 1100m, 25.VII.2001; Yunnan Prov.: 1 male, Daluo Town, 26.X.1987, coll. Feng Jinian & Lili; 10 males, 8 females, Mengla County, Yaoqu Town, V.1991; 1 male, Tengchong County, 22.XI.1999; 2 males, Xishuangbanna, 11.VII.2003; 1 male, Mengla City, 21.VII.2005, coll. LL; 1 male, Simao City, 30.VII.2005, coll. LL; 31 males, 20 females, Tengchong County, Huoshan Park, 1930m, 14.VIII.2005, coll. YM & KJ; 1 male, Dali, 29.VIII.2010, coll. ZM;1 male, Diqing, 14.VIII.2010, coll. ZM; 1 male, Jinghong City, 1.IX.2010, coll. ZM; 1 male, Daluo Town, 679m, 23.V.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Lancang County, 25.V.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Nansan Town, 29.V.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Yingjiang County, Zhanxi Town, 1009m, 2.VI.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Tengchong County, 1632m, 5.VI.2011, coll. LL; 4 males, Lushui County, Chenggan Town, 1013m, 6.VI.2011, coll. LL; 1 male, Zhenyuan County, 13.VI.2011, coll. LL; Shaanxi Prov.: 1 male, Liuba County, 20.VII.1995, coll. ZR; 3 males, 3 females, Liuba County, PageBreak20.VIII.1995, coll. ZR; 1 male, Zhouzhi County, 24.IX.2008, coll. LL; 1 male, Foping County, 1060m, 1.X.2008, coll. LL; Gansu Prov.: 1 male, Cheng County, 25.VII.2002, coll. WC & Shang Suqin; 1 male, Ruijin City, Baying Town, 280m, 15.VIII.2004, coll. WC & YM. All deposited in NWAFU and mainly collected at light. Abbreviations for collectors: DY: Duan Yani; SQ: Sun Qinxia; LL: Lu Lin; YM: Yang Meixia; CY: Cao Yanghui; ZY: Zhang Yalin; ZM: Zhang Meng; ZR: Zhang Wenzhu & Ren Liyun; WC: Wei Cong; LZ: Liu Zhenjiang; KJ: Kang Juxia; WY: Wang Yang.

Eastern Hemisphere.

Considerablevariation was found in the apical black macrosetae of the male pygofer and shape of the aedeagus in this species (see Figs 3, 4 & 6).

1	Vertex usually with transverse arcuate brown band interrupted medially (Plate I: A–B). Scutellum with dark brown basal triangles (Plate I: A–B). Male pygofer side with 2–6 apical brown or black macrosetae (Figs 1A–D). Aedeagal shaft slightly laterally compressed with small gonoduct (Fig. 2C); without processes (Figs 2B–C). Female VIIth sternite with posterior margin tri-lobed (Plate I: D)	Exitianus nanus
–	Vertex usually with transverse arcuate brown band complete (Plate II: A–E). Scutellum with faint brown basal triangles (Plate II: A–E). Male pygofer side with 2–3 apical brown or black macrosetae (Figs 3–4). Aedeagal shaft strongly laterally compressed, gonopore large with rim forming concave margin in lateral view; with pair of small dorsobasal processes (Figs 5G, 6). Female VIIth sternite with a shallow notch in mid-line (Plate II: G).	Exitianus indicus