Sabahia polypodii gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Evacantihinae) and its Phylogenetic Position within the Nirvanini Tribe

Abstract

In this paper, a new genus Sabahia Walczak & Gębicki with a new species Sabahia polypodii Walczak & Gębicki within the tribe Nirvanini is described. It originates from Sabah Province on Borneo (Malaysia, Sabah) and is most closely related to Decursusnirvana Gao & Zhang and Sinonirvana Gao & Zhang. It differs from these genera primarily with regard to the morphology of the male genitalia. Although it shows some resemblance to representatives of the genus Chudania Distant in the structure of the aedeagus, it can be clearly separated from this genus by the absence of a median carina from the facial part of the head. Details of the external morphology, as well as those of the male and female genitalia are documented (including scanning microscopy images). In addition, the phylogenetic relationships of several species within the subfamily Evacanthinae and related groups are discussed, based on comparative analyses of the genetic sequences for histone (H3) and the mitochondrial gene of cytochrome oxidase c (COI).