A revision of the Varta-Stymphalus generic complex of the leafhopper tribe Scaphytopiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from the Old World

Abstract

The genus Varta Distant (type species: Varta rubrofasciata Distant) is often treated as a junior synonym of Stymphalus St l (type species: Platymetopius rubrolineatus St l). Several species from the Oriental region have been misidentified either as S. rubrolineatus (St l) or as S. rubrostriatus (Horv th). All these species are treated here as belonging to the Varta-Stymphalus generic complex and are analyzed. The genus Stymphalus is redefined to include only the type species, S. rubrolineatus (St l), and the genus is restricted to the Afrotropical region. The genus Varta is more widespread and is distributed in the Oriental and Palaearctic regions. The following new taxa are described and their distributions given in parentheses. Shivania gen. nov., S. serrata sp. nov. (type species; Kenya); Varta bifida sp. nov. (Thailand), V. japonica sp. nov. (Japan and S. China), V. longula sp. nov. (Australia and Papua New Guinea), V. sympatrica sp. nov. (S. China), Vartalapa gen. nov., V. curvata sp. nov. (China: Fujian), V. malayana sp. nov. (Malaysia), and V. robusta sp. nov. (type species; Laos and Thailand); Vartatopa gen. nov., Vartatopa bifurcata sp. nov. (type species; Thailand); Xenovarta gen. nov., X. acuta sp. nov. (type species; S. China), X. ankusha sp. nov. (China: Guangdong), X. compressa sp. nov. (Sabah), X. cylindrica sp. nov. (Cambodia and Vietnam), and X. harpago sp. nov. (Sabah and Laos). Stymphalus modesta Linnavuori is transferred to the genus Shivania. Platymetopius rubrovittatus Matsumura and Deltocephalus rubrolineatus Motschulsky are transferred to the genus Varta and the former is considered a valid species. All taxa are described and illustrated. Keys to the included genera and species are also provided.