Species Diversity in the Leafhopper Genus Batracomorphus Lewis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae) from Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi.

Yulin Hu,Wu Dai,Zihan Han,Lili Gao

doi:10.3390/insects12060494

Abstract

Simple SummaryQinling Mountain is one of the global biodiversity hotspots, dividing northern temperate zones from subtropical zones. However, no species of Batracomorphus was previously recorded from Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi. We collected some specimens of Batracomorphus from this site and classified these into nine species based on a comparative morphological study, including one new species and one new synonym. The results of this study revealed species diversity and distributions of Batracomorphus.The genus Batracomorphus Lewis is the third largest leafhopper genus in the world, with its greatest diversity in the Oriental region. Here, nine species of Batracomorphus, including one new species, are recorded from Shaanxi Province, China, for the first time: B. allionii (Turton), B. clavatus Cai and Shen, B. fletcheri Hu and Dai sp. nov., B. geminatus (Li and Wang), B. juno Knight, B. lateprocessus Li and Wang, B. lunatus Cai and He, B. subfuscus (Li and Wang) and B. pandarus Knight. Among them, B. juno Knight is recorded from China for the first time. One new synonym is revealed: B. nigromarginattus Cai and Shen, 1999 is a junior synonym of B. subfuscus (Li and Wang, 1993). All taxa are described, and photographs of male genitalia are given based on observations of specimens from Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi of China. A key to the species found in Qinling Mountain of Shaanxi is also provided.

Highlights

The Cicadellidae is the largest family in the Hemiptera with more than 23,000 described species distributed worldwide
69 specimens of the genus Batracomorphus were collected from Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi and other materials were collected from several provinces in China, as shown
Nine species of the leafhopper genus Batracomorphus from Shaanxi are reviewed based on comparative morphological study, including one new species and one new synonym

Summary

Introduction

The Cicadellidae is the largest family in the Hemiptera with more than 23,000 described species distributed worldwide. Iassines are mostly arboreal and are distributed worldwide, but most of the tribes and genera are restricted to a single biogeographic realm. Species of Batracomorphus are mainly arboreal, some occur on shrubs, herbaceous plants, and grasses [7,8]. Some species of this group cause injury to economically important trees, such as willow, apples, pears, and other fruit trees, as well as to alfalfa, rice and other crops [9]. Batracomorphus angustatus is a possible vector of Australian grapevine yellows [13]

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