Revision of Elginus Theron (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) with the description of two new genera and comments on the grassland leafhopper fauna in South Africa

Abstract

The previously monotypic South African leafhopper genus, Elginus Theron, 1975, is revised. Its type species, E. saltus (Naudé, 1926), is redescribed, and the following 24 species are described as new: E. acutus, E. bispinus, E. cavatus, E. contradens, E. cultellus, E. denticulatus, E. dexteruncus, E. eccentricus, E. extrinsecus, E. falcatus, E. furcillatus, E. latus, E. levilobus, E. matarei, E. minutulus, E. recavus, E. malotiensis, E. oriens, E. semialatus, E. theroni, E. tortuosus, E. tubulus, E. unispinus and E. vulgaris. A key is provided for the identification mainly of males. These species are all grass-feeding and assigned to the tribe Paralimnini of the Deltocephalinae. Two new genera and species are described, namely Micropedeticus ochrus gen.n. & sp.n. in the tribe Paralimnini, from the Grassland Biome and Theronus priapus gen.n. & sp.n. in the tribe Deltocephalini, from the Fynbos Biome. Most species of Elginus and Micropedeticus are more common in the Grassland Biome in climax grassland under lower grazing pressure. Species of Elginus in the Fynbos Biome are more migratory and colonize new habitats such as grasses that appear after fire. These three genera are endemic to the Grassland and Fynbos Biomes of South Africa. A brief discussion on leafhoppers associated with grasses in the Fynbos, Grassland and Savanna Biomes of South Africa, is provided.