﻿Six new species of the leafhopper subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Eurymelinae, Macropsini) from China

﻿Abstract The nominate subgenus Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) Matsumura, 1912 is widely distributed in the Oriental region but has high species diversity only in southern China. The present paper describes and illustrates six new species of Pediopsoides (Pediopsoides) namely, P. (P.) ailaoshanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) quadrispinosus Li & Dai, sp. nov., P. (P.) flavus Li & Dai, sp. nov., and P. (P.) pianmaensis Li & Dai, sp. nov. all collected in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, P. (P.) maoershanensis Li & Dai, sp. nov., found in Guangxi Autonomous Region, southern China, and P. (P.) huangi Li & Dai sp. nov., from Taiwan, previously incorrectly recorded as a new name by Li & Dai, 2018 in Dai et al. 2018: 203 for P. (P.) femorata Huang & Viraktamath, 1993 (nec Pediopsisfemorata Hamilton, 1980). Two new junior synonyms of Sispocnis Anufriev, 1967 are proposed, i.e., Digitalis Liu & Zhang, 2002, syn. nov. and Neosispocnis Dmitriev, 2020, syn. nov.


Introduction
is a relatively small genus in the arboreal leafhopper tribe Macropsini (Eurymelinae). Within Macropsini, Pediopsoides is recognized by the weak striations on the pronotum (Figs 1,12,23,34,44), and posterior margins of male pygofer usually with short, inturned spines (Figs 5,16,27,38,48) (Hamilton 1980); it is distributed in all zoogeographical regions except in the Australian and Neotropical regions. Hamilton (1980) revised the genus and divided it into five subgenera of which Pediopsoides (Celopsis) Hamilton, 1980 was raised to generic level by Dai et al. (2018). Of the remaining four subgenera, P. (Nanopsis) Freytag, 1974 (currently P. (Pseudonanopsis) Dmitriev, 2020) is distributed in the Nearctic Region and P. (Kiamoncopsis) Linnavuori, 1978 is distributed in the Afrotropical region. The 1 Aedeagal shaft in ventral view terminally with a lamelliform triangular shaped expansion on each side (Fig. 64)  Aedeagal shaft relatively broad in lateral view, with pair of processes at base (Figs 61,62); pygofer side with relatively broad biolobed processes caudoventrally (Li et al. 2016: figs 10-11 Aedeagal shaft processes near apex, relatively small and weakly sclerotized (Fig. 43); dorsal connective with one simple long apical process tapered gradually and twisted basally (Fig. 39)  Style with apex bearing a spine-like process (Li et al. 2013: fig. 16); dorsal connective centrally produced into bifurcate process (Li et al. 2013: fig. 21 (Fig. 17)   produced head in the received images. Unfortunately, enquiries made at the type depository (see above) indicated only an empty box was present containing a note saying that specimens had been removed for imaging. Therefore, for the present, identity of the species rests with figures of the male genitalia, reproduced here from the original (Figs 54-60).   . Ground color yellowish to dark brown with striations and punctures on surfaces of head, face, pronotum, and mesonotum pale brown. Head (Fig. 12) yellowish, anterior margin of central part weakly brown; face (Fig. 14) evenly yellowish except postclypeus with large slight brown spot centrally and anteclypeus brown to black apically; eyes brown with reddish tinge. Pronotum (Fig. 12) yellowish brown adjacent to eyes, other parts dark brown. Mesonotum (Fig. 12) yellow brown, basal triangles dark brown. Forewings (Figs 12, 13) dark brown with venation concolorous. Legs yellowish grey.

Distribution. China (Guangxi Autonomous Region).
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species, Maoershan National Natural Reserve, combined with the Latin adjectival suffix -ensis, meaning from a place.
Remarks. This new species is similar to P. (P.) bispinatus in appearance and coloration, and somewhat similar to P. (P.) ailaoshanensis, but can be distinguished from all members of the subgenus by the following combination of features: aedeagus simple, bent dorsally and gradually tapered to acute apex without processes; dorsal connective strongly developed, axe-like, with apical half with serrated margins. It can also be distinguished by the shape of the pygofer and pygofer processes. Body form (Figs 23-25). Head including eyes (Fig. 23) almost as wide as pronotum, crown short and nearly parallel-sided, vertex clearly projecting forward angularly. Face (Fig. 25) slightly depressed in central part in lateral aspect (Fig. 24), face including eyes wider than long, surface with clear intense punctations and striae, postclypeus with distinct longitudinal carina, distance between ocelli nearly 4.3 × that from ocellus to adjacent eye. Pronotum (Fig. 23) broad, 2.3 × wider than long, with weak longitudinal carina at midlength, obliquely striated, anterior margin strongly produced forward, and posterior margin concave at midlength. Mesonotum (Fig. 23) nearly 1.2 × as long as pronotum. Forewing (Figs 23, 24) with veins prominent.  (Figs 26-33). Pygofer side (Fig. 26) broad basally, lobe caudally truncate with dorsal and ventral margin nearly straight, apical half distinctly serrated. Subgenital plate (Fig. 26) slender, shorter than ventral margin of pygofer, surface with fine setae. Dorsal connective (Fig. 28) S-shaped, with medial long process from its ventral margin and directed posteriorly with irregular serrated margins, apex bifurcated. Style (Fig. 29) angled at basal 2/5, stem parallel-margined. Connective (Figs 30, 31), anterior margin wider than posterior margin, both lateral arms prolonged, and twisted dorsally. Aedeagus (Figs 32, 33) broad basally, shaft slender, with lateral margins sinuated in ventral view, apex with pair of short acute processes on each side of gonopore.

Distribution. China (Yunnan Province).
Etymology. The specific epithet, quadrispinosus, is derived from the Latin words quadri-and spinosus, referring to the aedeagal shaft with four apical spines.
Remarks. The new species is similar to P. (P.) jingdongensis in having the same yellowish brown body and body form and male pygofer ventral margin with distinct serrations in apical half formed by a row of numerous short regularly spaced denticles. It differs, however, from P. (P.) jingdongensis and all other congeners by its slender aedeagal shaft in lateral view with four apical spines and also by the shape of its dorsal connective. Description. Body color (Figs 34-36). Head (Fig. 34) lemon yellow, central part slightly brownish yellow; face (Fig. 36) evenly lemon yellow except for slightly brownish yellow postclypeus, eyes black. Pronotum (Fig. 34) with yellow ground color, slightly brown to dark brown or even black around median line and posterior margin. Mesonotum (Fig. 34) yellowish brown, basal triangles black, punctations on surface dark brown, posterior submargin of mesoscutum with pair of small black spots. Forewing (Figs 34, 35) dark brown, veins concolorous. Legs evenly yellowish.
Male genitalia . Pygofer side (Fig. 37) broad basally, lobe with caudal margin truncate and dorsal margins straight, ventral margin with apical half margined with several minute teeth (Fig. 38) and marginal setae. Subgenital plate (Fig. 37) slender, nearly parallel sided, distinctly shorter than ventral margin of pygofer, surface with fine setae. Dorsal connective (Fig. 39) with apical process long, tapered gradually, and twisted basally with acute tip, lateral margins smooth. Style (Fig. 40) slightly angled at basal 2/5, stem slightly sinuate, and slightly broader in central part. Connective (Fig. 41) with anterior margin wider than posterior margin, both lateral arms twisted dorsally. Aedeagus (Figs 42,43) broad basally, dorsal apodeme developed, shaft slender, bent dorsally, tapered to pointed apex and U-shaped in lateral view, in ventral aspect shaft with round apex, inflated at midlength, lateral margins with pair of small spines pointed basolaterally, gonopore apical on ventral surface.

Distribution. China (Yunnan Province).
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word flavus, referring to the yellowish color of the species especially on the face.
Measurement. Body length (including tegmen): 4.6-4.7 mm. Distribution. China (Yunnan Province). Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species, Pianma Town, combined with the Latin adjectival suffix -ensis, meaning from a place.
Remarks. The new species has the dorsal connective similar to that in P. (P.) ailaoshanensis, but can be distinguished from the latter by the simple aedeagal shaft without processes; it differs from other congeners by the combined features of dorsal connective, aedeagus and male pygofer processes.