Drabescus zhangi Zahniser & Dietrich 2013, sp. nov.

Drabescus zhangi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 899B96B1-7890-4256-8AF9-599E63134DB2

Fig. 19

Externally, the new species is very similar in coloration to D. natalensis Distant, 1910, the only other known African species of Drabescus. It can be distinguished from that species by the following characters: crown not as strongly produced, coloration of crown not as mottled, style apophysis spatulate (digitate in natalensis), aedeagus with pair of long processes arising from ventral margin (natalensis with pair of short apical processes), and segment X with pair of long filamentous setae arising from ventral margin (absent in natalensis). The holotype was compared with specimens of D. natalensis which were collected at the same locality.

This species is named in honor of Dr. Yalin Zhang, who has contributed extensively to knowledge of the Oriental leafhopper fauna.

Holotype

♂, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, Maboke, 6 May 1969, Michel Boulard, coll. AMNH.

SIZE. ♂ 9.2 mm.

BODY. Head wider than pronotum. Crown very slightly produced medially; surface shiny with longitudinal and radial striations; dark brown medially at posterior margin, with transverse ivory band reaching posterior margin laterally, with brown band anteriorly; with pair of dark brown spots near eyes; sharply angled to face. Anterior margin of head with numerous irregular carinae; with distinct transverse ivory band leading onto eyes. Frontoclypeus sharply keeled below dorsal margin; keel confluent laterally with distinct oblique antennal ledges; texture longitudinally striate; dark brown. Clypellus constricted near base; expanding apically; dark brown. Lorum dark brown; wider than clypellus at base. Gena ivory below eye, dark brown above. Antennal sockets near upper corners of eyes. Antennae long, 1.5 x width of head or longer. Pronotum and mesonotum ivory with 5 broad longitudinal brown or black stripes; median 3 stripes tapering anteriorly and posteriorly. Pronotum carinate laterally. Forewings smoky; veins brownish with very small whitish callosities, each bearing a very small seta; without extra crossveins; with crossvein between A1 and claval suture; with A1-A2 crossvein. Profemur row AM without distinct setae; intercalary row with numerous scattered fine setae, not in a distinct row; row AV with only scattered fine setae. Protibia dorsal surface flat; dorsal margins carinate. Mesofemur with scattered longer ventral setae. Mesotibia dorsal surface flattened, margins carinate. Metafemur apical setae 2+1. Metatibia row PD setae uniform in length.

MALE. Pygofer incised dorsally past midlength; laterally with several macrosetae subapically; each side with spine arising from ventral margin, slightly sinuate, directed posteriorly, surpassing pygofer sides. Subgenital plates long, triangular; lateral margins straight to slightly concave; without macrosetae; with several short fine hairs laterally. Connective Y -shaped; stem about as long as anterior arms; articulate with aedeagus. Style broadly bilobed basally; preapical lobe squarish; apophysis incrassate, spatulate, with stippled texture. Aedeagus U -shaped; with pair of slender process arising from shaft near ventral margin, following shaft, slightly surpassing apex of shaft; gonopore apical. Segment X broad; sclerotized laterally and dorsally on posterior half; with pair of very long filamentous setae arising from ventral side, extending beyond pygofer.