Generic revision of the New World tribe Hoplophorionini (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Membracinae)

Abstract

Abstract.The tribe Hoplophorionini Goding, 1926, includes 105 species of treehoppers in 10 genera. All are apparently subsocial and lack mutualism with honeydew‐collecting hymenopterans. In many species, parental investment in offspring is unique because of a specialized kicking defence (described herein) and construction of extra‐ovipositional punctures in the host tissue through which nymphs feed. The tribe occurs from Canada to Chile, with most generic diversity in Central America but most species diversity near the equator. Three genera,StalotypaMetcalf,Ramosella, new genus andStirpis, new genus, are endemic to the Greater Antilles but do not constitute a monophyletic group; the first two genera appear most closely related toTurrialbia, new genus, from Costa Rica. Host plant specializations and other biological attributes are summarized for genera and species. A phylogenetic analysis of 23 hoplophorionine species produced 9 minimal‐length cladograms that were similar in many respects.PotniaStål appears to have retained the greatest number of ancestral features. Aposematic teneral coloration of adults probably evolved once. The modification of the ancestral kicking behaviour by the first hoplophorionines appears to have released them from a constraint on pronotal form.Diagnoses are given for adults of all genera and, when possible, for immatures. A key is presented for the 10 genera; three are described as New Genera based on the cladistic analysis:Ramosella, Stirpis, andTurrialbia.Three New Species are described:Ramosella thalli, Stirpis jamaicensis, andTurrialbia felina.The genusMicropeplaSakakibara is considered a junior synonym ofOchropeplaStal, New Generic Synonymy.Umbonia terribilisWalker is moved from synonymy underAlchisme virescens(Fairmaire) to a New Synonymy underUmbonia reductaWalker. The subspeciesPlatycotis vittata vittata(Fabricius),P. vittata lineata(Fairmaire), andP. vittata quadrivittata(Say) are returned to synonymy withPlatycotis vittata(Fabricius), Reinstated Specific Synonymies. Three species are Reinstated as valid:Alchisme obscura(Walker) andA. veruta(Fowler), both from synonymy underA. turrita(Germar); andUmbonia reductaWalker, from synonymy underU. crassicomis(Amyot & Serville). Five New Combinations are proposed:Alchisme antigua(Funkhouser), referred fromUmbonia; A. sordida(Germar), referred fromPlatycotis; A. sagittata(Germar), elevated from subspecific rank underPlatycotis vittata; Ochropepla mourei(Sakakibara), referred fromMicropepla;andRamosella dominicensis(Ramos), referred fromPlatycotis. Platycotis nigrorufa(Walker),P. cornutaPlummer,P. salvini(Fowler), andP. fuscata(Fowler) were previously unplaced to subgenus; the first is referred toPlatycotis (LophopeltaStal) and the others toPlatycotis(PlatycotisStål).Microschaema nigrostrigataBuckton is moved from synonymy underAlchisme recurva(Stål) to a New Synonymy underEnnya dorsalis(Fairmaire) of the tribe Polyglyptini, subfamily Smiliinae.A checklist with critical synonymies and indexes to hoplophorionine taxa and host plant associations are provided. Lectotypes are designated forCentrotus vittatusFabricius,Hoplophora lineataFairmaire,Membracis venosaGermar,Potnia affinisBuckton, andTriquetra obtusaFowler.