Two new species of the leafhopper genus Mitjaevia Dworakowska from China (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae)

Abstract Background The leafhopper genus Mitjaevia Dworakowska,1970 includes 19 species worldwide, nine species are known in China and is widely distributed in Palaearctic and Oriental Regions New information Two new species from Guizhou Province, China are described within the genus Mitjaevia Dworakowska, 1970 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae). A key to the species of the genus is provided and the female valvulae are described and figured.


Introduction
The leafhopper genus Mitjaevia Dworakowska, 1970 was established in the tribe Erythroneurini of Typhlocybinae, with Erythroneura amseli Dlabola, 1961 as its type species (Dworakowska 1970). The genus consists of 19 species worldwide, nine known species are from China (Chen and Song 2020)  Male pygofer rounded or angled, with simple movably articulated dorsal appendage, not extended to apex of subgenital plate. Pygofer with setae on internal surface, with sparse long fine setae. Pygofer ventro-apical membranous area inconspicuous or absent directly. Subgenital plate long, curved dorsad, with many peg-like short rigid setae along upper margin from sub-base to middle part and three or more macrosetae present at mid-length.
Subgenital plate section basad of medial constriction subequal to or shorter than distal section or longer than distal section. Style apex slender, pre-apical lobe usually well developed, large. Aedeagus with shaft tubular, sometimes with pair of processes. Connective "Y-" or "M-" shaped, with central lobe between lateral arms.
In this paper, two new species from Guizhou Province, China are described and illustrated.
A key to all Chinese species of the genus Mitjaevia is given.

Materials and methods
The leafhopper specimens were collected by sweep-net: collecting event once a month by an average of 100 nets each time (sweep net diameter of 50 cm) over grasslands. The collection time was in May with a temperature of 24℃, humidity of 25% and the altitude of 1541 m above sea level. The morphological terms used in this study follow Dietrich (2005) and Song and Li (2013). An Olympus SZX16 microscope was used for study materials and the Olympus BX53 microscope was used to draw the male genital anatomy. Overall habitus photos were taken using aKEYENCE VHX-5000 digital microscope. Body length as measured from the apex of vertex to the tip of forewing. All specimens examined are deposited in the collection of the School of Karst Science, Guizhou Normal University, China (GZNU).

Description
Body length, males 2.9-3.0 mm, females 2.8-2.9 mm. Vertex (Fig. 1A) pale yellow, with pair of small black spots. Coronal suture short, with two irregular markings on sides ( Fig. 1A and C). Eyes greyish-black. Pronotum yellow, with irregularly dark brown or black patches ( Fig. 1A and C). Scutellum light yellow, with basal triangles black and transverse impression distinct ( Fig. 1A and C). Face light brownish-yellow, frontoclypeus with black patches at sides basally (Fig. 1D). Forewing milky white, with light brown patches. Abdominal apodemes small, not extended to hind margin of 3 sternite (Fig. 2G).

Diagnosis
Male genitalia. Pygofer lobe broad, with many microtrichia and fine setae scattered on lateral surface, occasionally with long fine setae. Pygofer dorsal appendage expanded basally, caudal margin round ( Fig. 2A). Subgenital plate short, with three long macrosetae on lateral surface and row of peg-like setae along dorsal margin to medium area, with sparse fine small setae on apical portion (Fig. 2B). Style long, with pre-apical lobe moderately large (Fig. 2C). Preatrium of aedeagus short and aedeagus shaft slender; at the base of aedeagus with small appendages ; dorsal apodeme branched apically; gonopore apical on ventral surface ( Fig. 2D and E). Connective Y-shaped, arms and stem developed, with long and thin central lobe (Fig. 2F).
Female genitalia. Female 7 sternite as in Fig. 3A and B. Valvula I elongate, curved dorsad, apical portion pointed, with dense imbricate carving ( Fig. 3C and D). Valvulae II elongate, gradually expanded from base to top and divided into two blades, one of which has dentate protrusions ( Fig. 3E and F). Valvula III leaf-like, with microtrichia on dorsal margin and apex ( Fig. 3G and H).

Etymology
The new species is named from the Latin word "bifurcatus", referring to dorsal apodeme branched of the aedeagus.

Taxon discussion
This species has a similar aedeagus shape to Mitjaevia protuberanta Song, Li, Xiong, 2011(Song et al. 2011), but it can be distinguished by the aedeagal shaft slender; preatrium of aedeagus short, dorsal apodeme branched apically and without triangle-like processes subapically.

Diagnosis
Male genitalia. Pygofer lobe broad, with numerous microtrichia and fine setae scattered near caudal part and dorsal margin. Pygofer dorsal appendage expanded basally, tapering to apex and hook-like apically ( Fig. 5A and B). Subgenital plate short, wide and midfield slightly concave, with three macrosetae, numerous peg-like setae along dorsal margin (Fig. 5C). Style apex expanded, "curved neck" area slender, preapical lobe obvious, enlarged (Fig. 5D). Pre-atrium of aedeagus little expanded in lateral view, aedeagus shaft slender, with pair of "finger-like" processes arising from base of shaft and extending outwards, bifurcated into two branches apically ( Fig. 5E and F). Connective Y-shaped, two lateral arms and stem developed, median anterior lobe well developed (Fig. 5G).

Etymology
The new species is named from the Latin word "ramosus", referring to the aedeagal shaft with two bifurcated branches at apex.

Taxon discussion
The new species is similar to Mitjaevia diana (Distant 1918), but differs in having the "finger-like" processes arising from base of aedeagal shaft and extending outwards; two bifurcated branches at apex; connective Y-shaped and stem developed.   n.