Thursday, October 8, 2015

A new leafhopper: Flaviata longa

Leafhoppers are one of the ten largest families of plant-feeding insects. At least 20 000 species which is more than all species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians together. 

Leafhoppers have mouthparts for piercing and sucking, enabling them to feed on plant sap hence most of them are herbivores. However, some are known to eat smaller insects, such as aphids, on occasion.

Our new species was collected in the Yunnan province, China. Its name was derived from the Latin word for long referring to an elongated appendage at the rear end.

For the experts:  A new species of genus Flaviata Lu & Qin, Flaviata longa sp. nov. is described from Yunnan (southwest China). An identification key for males of all known species in this genus is provided. Photographs and illustrations of adults and male genitalia of the new species are also given. New synonymies for two species in the leafhopper subgenus Empoasca (Matsumurasca) Anufriev of Empoascini are proposed: E. (M.) southerni Zhang, 2014 = E. (M.) clypealata Qin & Zhang, 2011; E. (M.) qini Zhang, 2014 = E. (M.) quadrialata Qin & Zhang, 2011.

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