Key to genera of the tribe Tropidocephalini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae) from the People's Republic of China, with description of a new genus

Abstract

A new genus, Mirocaudagen. nov., and a new species, Mirocauda albilineanasp. nov., are described and illustrated. Because of the nature of the post-tibial spur, this genus belongs to the tribe Tropidocephalini. A key to the 17 Chinese genera (including 3 subgenera) of the tribe Tropidocephalini is provided. Two new synonymies are reported: Malaxa aurunca Yang et Yang, 1986 is a junior synonym of Malaxella flava Ding et Hu, 1986 and Specinervures liquida Yang et Yang, 1986 is a junior synonym of Specinervures interrupta Ding et Hu, 1986. A checklist of genera in the tribe Tropidocephalini from the People's Republic of China is appended.

Two New Genera of Tropidocephalini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae) from Hainan Province, China

“…The fauna of Chinese tribe Tripidocephalini is very abundant and 10 new genera were erected in the last 3 decades, as follows: Bambusiphaga Huang and Ding (Huang et al 1979), Specinervures Kuoh and Ding (Kuoh et al 1980), Paranectopia Ding and Tian (Ding & Tian 1981), Neobelocera Ding and Yang (Ding et al 1986), Arcifrons Ding and Yang (Ding et al 1986), Malaxella Ding and Hu (Ding et al 1986), Carinodelphax Ding and Yang (Ding & Yang 1987), Carinofrons Chen and Li (Chen & Li 2000b), Mirocauda Chen (Chen 2003) and Gufacies Ding (Ding 2006). A key to genera of the tribe Tropidocephalini from China was provided by Chen (2003), who described a new genus.…”

“…Recently, the revision and description of new species of some genera in the tribe Tropidocephalini were also reported (Chen et al 2006;Chen & Liang 2007;Chen et al 2007a,b). Most species of Tropidocephalini from China feed exclusively on Bambusoideae (Yang et al 1999;Chen 2003;Chen et al 2007a,b;Ding 2006). To date, the Chinese tribe Tropidocephalini has been increased to 18 genera, 3 subgenera and 82 species (Muir 1913(Muir , 1915Fennah 1956;Huang et al 1979;Kuoh 1979, 1980Ding & Tian 1981;Ding 1982Ding , 1987Ding , 2006Ding & Hu 1982, 1991Ding et al 1986Ding et al , 1999Zhu 1988;Yang 1989Yang , 1992Qin & Yuan 1998, 1999Chen 1999Chen , 2002Chen , 2003Chen & Ding 2000;Chen & Li 2000a,b, 2002Chen et al , 2006Chen et al , 2007aQin & Zhang 2005;Chen & Liang 2007).…”

“…Tribal characters include forewings with R 1 separated from Rs+M basally; hindwings with M stalked with Cu 1 at basal half, anal areas with IA, IIA 1 and IIA 2 , all reaching posterior margin; post-tibial spur large and thick, concave on inner surface, without teeth along the hind margin; spinal formula of hind leg 5-6-4; aedeagus often tightly connected with ventral portion of anal segment; complicated asymmetrical distortion in the basal part of the aedeagus with at least one elongated process arising from this part (Asche 1985;Chen 2003;Ding 2006). Muir (1915) included 6 genera in the Tropidocephalini when he proposed it as a tribe of the Delphacinae, and he included species having a solid post-tibial spur but with a concave inner surface and no teeth along the edge.…”

“…Two genera are restricted to the Neotropical, 2 to the Palaearctic and 1 to the Australian region. The widespread genus Tropidocephala Stål is distributed through the Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, Australian, and Pacific regions (Donaldson 1991;Chen & Li 2000b;Chen 2003;Ding 2006).…”

“…A key to genera of the tribe Tropidocephalini from China was provided by Chen (2003), who described a new genus. Seventeen genera and 68 species, including 1 new genus, 7 new species, and a revised key were provided in a monograph on the Delphacidae of China (Ding 2006).…”