Asicimbex Yan, Deng & Wei gen. nov.

Type species.

Agenocimbex ulmusvorus Yang, 1996.

Diagnosis.

The new genus is similar to Agenocimbex Rohwer 1910 and Cimbex Olivier 1791. Asicimbex differs from Agenocimbex by the following characters: a crossvein present between 2A and 3A in hind wing (Fig. 1I); the malar space about 1.6-2.3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 2A); the head dilated behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 2E); the clypeus clearly elevated in middle, apical breadth shorter than distance between anterior tentorial pits, anterior incision narrow and deep (Fig. 2A); posterior margin of the abdominal tergum 1 broadly and deeply incised (Fig. 1A, B); the ovipositor distinctly longer than middle tibia (Figs 5H, 7H); the lancet narrow and long, dorsal margins with dense and long hairs, with about 50 serrulae (Fig. 2M); the serrulae short and small, truncate apically and not distinctly protruding beyond cypsella (Fig. 2Q); the valviceps of penis valve very broad and transverse (Fig. 2U). Asicimbex differs from Cimbex by having the body quite slender (Fig. 1A, B), the lateral part of head weakly dilated behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 2E); the inner spur of hind tibia slender, and longer than apical breadth of tibia with pointed apex (Fig. 2I), the malar space short, about 1.6-2.3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 2A); the anterior of fore wing with longitudinal smoky band (Fig. 1A, B); the serrulae small and remote to each other, apex truncate and not strongly protruding beyond cypsella (Fig. 2Q). Asicimbex differs from Palaeocimbex Semenov 1935 by having the body more slender, head weakly dilated behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 2E); clypeus broader than long and with a distinct and broad basin in upper third (Fig. 2A); the inner spur of hind tibia slender, and longer than apical breadth of tibia with pointed apex (Fig. 2I); the malar space short, about 1.6-2.3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 2A); the valviceps of penis valve transverse (Fig. 2U); crepidium of lancet clearly below the lower third (Fig. 2M), the annular spines very long and dense with the cypsella densely pilose (Fig. 2Q).

In Agenocimbex Rohwer 1910, the crossvein between anal veins absent in hind wing (Fig. 1J); the malar space narrower than diameter of ocellus (Fig. 2B); the head behind eyes very short and distinctly constricted in dorsal view (Fig. 2F); the clypeus flat, not elevated in middle, apical margins broader than distance between anterior tentorial pit, anterior incision very shallow and flat (Fig. 2B); the posterior margin of the first abdominal tergum quite shallowly incised (Fig. 1C, D); the ovipositor sheath clearly shorter than middle tibia; the lancet triangular and short, dorsal margins without dense and long hairs, with about 25 serrulae (Fig. 2N); the serrulae convex, apex pointed and strongly protruding beyond cypsella (Fig. 2R); the penis valve narrow, long and triangular (Fig. 2V).

In Cimbex Olivier 1791 (excluding species of Palaeocimbex), the body very stout (Fig. 1E, F); the lateral part of head strongly dilated behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 2G); the apical spurs of hind tibia stout and shorter than apical breadth of tibia, apex blunt and membranous (Fig. 2K); the malar space very long, at least 3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 2C); the fore wing without longitudinal smoky band (Fig. 1K); the serrulae convex and close to each other, apex round and strongly protruding beyond cypsella (Fig. 2S).

In Palaeocimbex Semenov 1935, the body very stout and strong (Fig. 1G, H); the lateral part of head strongly dilated behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 2H); clypeus as long as broad and without a distinct and broad basin in upper third (clypeus and supraclypeal area merged together) (Fig. 2D); the apical spurs of hind tibia stout and shorter than apical breadth of tibia, apex blunt and membranous (Fig. 2L); the malar space very long, at least 3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 2D); the valviceps of penis valve clearly oblique (Fig. 2X); crepidium of lancet at middle of the lancet, the annular spines very short and less dense, with the cypsella largely naked (Fig. 2T).

Description.

Female. Body medium to large-sized, without metallic luster, head and thorax with short hairs mixed with sparse long hairs.

Head. Clypeus distinctly elevated in middle, broader than distance between lower margins of eyes, anterior with small incision medially (Fig. 3C); labrum tongue-shaped, short and small, narrower than 1/4 breadth of clypeus; mandibles asymmetrical, short and broad, without basal petiole, inner tooth distinct (Fig. 10E); malar space about 1.6-2.3 × diameter of middle ocellus (Fig. 3C); supraclypeal furrow absent but with shallow depressions; eyes large, inner margins feebly convergent downwards (Figs 3C, 6D); frontal area flat, without distinct frontal ridge; postocellar furrow distinct (Fig. 3D); postocellar area broader than long with weak middle furrow, lateral furrows distinct; head behind eyes weakly dilated and much shorter than eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 3D), without occipital carina. Antenna not longer than 2 × head breadth, with 5 antennomeres before club, antennomere 4 almost as long as antennomere 5, club indistinctly segmented (Fig. 3F).

Thorax. Mesonotum with middle furrow and lateral furrows narrow but distinct (Fig. 3G); mesoscutellum elevated, anterior margin straight, roundly narrowed backwards; cenchri small. Anterior of forewing with a longitudinal smoky stripe (faded in dried specimens), anal cell with a short and straight crossvein at about basal 2/5; a crossvein present in hind wing between 2A and 3A (Fig. 1I).

Legs. Coxae and femora simple, denticle absent (Fig. 7H); inner apical spur of hind tibia slender, longer than apical breadth of tibia with pointed apex (Fig. 2I); claw large and distinctly bent, proximal teeth shorter than distal teeth (Fig. 2Y); tarsal pulvilli developed, close to each other (Fig. 3E).

Abdomen. Abdominal tergum 1 without middle carina (Fig. 3I), lateral carina present or absent, posterior margin with broad and deep incision, and a large membranous patch. Ovipositor sheath longer than middle tibia, apex clearly protruded beyond end of abdomen (Fig. 3J, L); lance long, usually weakly broadened beyond apex, apical incision and a hook distinct (Fig. 2M); lancet narrow and long, weakly tapering toward apex with 42-56 serrulae, serrulae small and remote to each other, hardly protruding beyond apex of cypsella, annular spines very long and dense, cypsella densely pilose (Fig. 2Q), crepidium of lancet clearly below the lower third of lancet (Fig. 2M).

Male. Structure similar to female except for following parts: anterior incision of clypeus more clear than female (Fig. 1B); subgenital plate slightly longer than broad, apical margin round; middle and hind coxae and femora elongated with carina; hind femora distinctly swollen, about twice as broad as trochanter (Fig. 1L).

Etymology.

The generic name Asicimbex comes from the genus Cimbex with a prefix " Asi " referring to Asia, the distribution area of the new genus. Gender masculine.

Distribution.

East and North China, Far East of Russia, Korea.

Discussion.

In the key to tribes and genera of Cimbicinae, Gussakovskij (Gussakovskij 1947) keyed Agenocimbex within the taxa with a cross vein between hind anal veins. We guess that he did not examine specimens of Agenocimbex jucunda Mocsáry (now A. maculatus). Both A. eous and A. malaisei, the two other species of Agenocimbex that he examined, really had a cross vein between the hind anal veins and led him to think that the anal cross vein was present in all species of Agenocimbex, though A. maculatus has in fact no cross vein between the anal veins in the hind wing.

The color pattern of Palaeocimbex amurensis (Forsius, 1930) from Northeastern Asia is similar to some species of Asicimbex . Though the states of tibial spurs and serrulae are not known to the authors, its clypeus is as long as broad, the malar space is quite long and the forewing with smoky stripe covering cells 2Rs and 3Rs (Forsius 1930). These characters support it as a member of Palaeocimbex and close to P. carinulata .

Host plant.

Ulmus spp. of Ulmaceae (Yang and Li 1996; Yang and Wu 1998; Wu et al. 2001).

The new genus and the 12 known species of the genus can be identified using the following keys.