A New Genus Protensus of the Subfamily Deltocephalinae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

In the present paper a new genus and two new species of Deltocephalinae are described from China. Moreover, the species Albicostella kiushiuensis Vilbaste is tranfered to this new genus as a new combination, which is reported for the first time from China.The type speci mens are deposited in the Entomological Museum, Northwest Science and Technology University of Agriculture and Forestry. Protensus , gen.nov. Head about as wide as pronotum. Vertex slightly longer medially than next to eyes and middle length is about half of the width between eyes. Eyes fairly large, about half distance between eyes. Occelus is next to eye and distance from occelus to eye is about its diameter. Frontoclypeus is narrow, slightly longer than the distance between eyes. Clypellus is parallel sided. Pronotum with its anterior margin protruded roundly and posterior margin slightly concave. Scutellum with sulcus curved and depressed. Forewing with appendix well deve loped, 4 apical cells, inner anteapical cell open basally, outer anteapical cell small——as about two thirds long as the middle anteapical cell. Pygofer with a pair of appendages at both dorsal and ventral posterior margin. Subgential plate long and wide with outer margin curved. Paramere is narrowing distally with apex tapered. Connective V shaped, shaft short and arms well developed. The aedeagus with basal atrium well developed, shaft short and curved ventrad with a well developed dorsal projection in the middle, and paired or single branched processes in the middle or near posterior margin; phallotreme terminal. Type species: Protensus choui ,sp. nov. Distribution: Palearctic Region including China, former USSR and Japan. This new genus is similar to Albicastella Ishihara in general appearance, but can be distinguished from the latter by following characteristics: 1) aedeagal shaft curved ventrally with a well developed dorsal projection in the middle;2) aedeagus with paired or branched processes in the middle or near posterior margin rather than at base or absent. Key to species of the new genus Protensus (♂) 1. Aedeagus with a pair of long lateral processes in the middle, the processes with basal part narrow and wide from middle to subapical part, apex tapered Protensus kiushiuensis Vilbaste, n. comb. Aedeagus with single branched process near posterior margin at about base of the dorsal projection2 2. Aedeagal shaft with teeth at posterior margin; subgential plate with a row of large setae, posterior margin rounded Protensus dentatus sp. nov. Aedeagal shaft smooth without tooth; subgential plate with several large setae, posterior margin straight Protensus choui sp. nov. 1. Protensus kiushiuensis (Vilbaste), n. comb. (Fig. 1) Albicostella kiushiuensis Vilbaste, 1967,44-45. Speciemens examined: 1♂,Shiquan county of Shaanxi Province,25 Ⅳ 1980,coll. Xiang Longcheng and Ma Ning;2♂♂,1♀,Chenggu county of Shaanxi Province,2～3 Ⅳ 1980,Xiang Longcheng and Ma Ning. Distribution: China, Japan. 2. Protensus choui , sp. nov. (Fig. 2) Length (incl. Teg.):♂6.5mm. This species resembles Protensus kiushiuensis (Vilbaste) , but can be distinguished from the latter by: 1) body yellowish brown, without black spots near anterior margin of vertex;2) aedeagus with single branched process near posterior margin;3) pygofer appendages very long, dorsal appendage not sickle shaped. The new species is very similar to Protensus dentatus sp.n. but differs from the latter in the following aspects: 1) subgenital plate with posterior margin straight, with only several large setae; 2) aedeagus with posterior margin straight, without any tooth. Holotype ♂,Fengxian county of Shaanxi Prov., Ⅷ 1980, at light, coll. Sun Hong. The new species is named in honor of the well known entomologist, Prof. Io Chou in our museum for his contribution to entomology and also for his 90th birthday. 3. Protensus dentatus , sp. nov. (Fig. 3) Length (incl. Teg. ):♂6.8mm,♀7.0mm. This new species is very similar to Protensus ch