Friday, May 15, 2026

[Entomology • 2026] Chinaica myrica & C. viraktamathi • A New Genus of idiocerine Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) from China on Waxberry, with Descriptions of Two New Species


Chinaica Zhang, gen. nov. 
Chinaica myrica Zhang, sp. nov. & C. viraktamathi Zhang, sp. nov.

in Zhang, Fu et Webb, 2026. 

Abstract
A new genus of idiocerine leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae) from China, Chinaica Zhang, gen. nov., is described, with two new species: Chinaica myrica Zhang, sp. nov., (the type species) and Chinaica viraktamathi Zhang, sp. nov. Specimens were collected from waxberry, Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc. (Myricaceae). The new genus is distinguished by its external morphology and male genital structures and is compared to similar genera.

Key Words: Amritodus, Auchenorrhyncha, Leafhoppers, morphology, new taxa, Paramritodus, taxonomy

Species of Chinaica Zhang, gen. nov., dorsal habitus and face.
 a–f. Chinaica myrica Zhang, sp. nov.; g–l. Chinaica viraktamathi Zhang, sp. nov.;
a–c, g–i. Male; d–f, j–l. Female.

Chinaica viraktamathi Zhang, gen. nov. et sp. nov.
a. Myrica rubra (Lour.) Siebold & Zucc. (Myricaceae), the host plant of Chinaica myrica & C. viraktamathi;  
b. A male adult in its natural habitat (male); c. A nymph of the same species.


 Bin Zhang, Ziyu Fu and Michael D. Webb. 2026. A New Genus of idiocerine Leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae) from China on Waxberry, with Descriptions of Two New Species. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. 73(1): 105-113. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/dez.73.188389 [8 May 2026]