Planthopper Genus Research Articles

Phylogeny of the planthopper genus Megamelus (Hemiptera, Delphacidae), with the description of two new species from South America.

Megamelus is a genus of Delphacidae widely distributed and mostly associated with plants in freshwater environments. Despite various taxonomic revisions and thorough research, the delimitation of the genus, its diversity, and its evolutionary history need to be further explored. Moreover, features originally considered distinctive of the genus exhibit variation and should be reassessed. Here, the genus Megamelus in South America was examined, describing two new species, Megamelusdelticus Remes Lenicov & Mariani, sp. nov. and Megamelusserpentinus Mariani & Remes Lenicov, sp. nov., and providing information on their host plants and geographical distribution. The distribution and host range knowledge of Megamelusiphigeniae and Megamelustimehri are also expanded, the male brachypter of M.timehri described for the first time, and a key to distinguish the species, based on male and female genitalia and their external morphology, is provided. Moreover, the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus is presented, based on the mitochondrial COI gene to clarify the interspecific relationships among its members. Our combined findings support the monophyly of the genus and refine diagnostic features, including the importance of the pygofer's lobed appearance. This comprehensive revision highlights the need for further multidisciplinary approaches to fully understand the evolutionary history of Megamelus and its interactions with host plants and environments.

The genus Toyoides Matsumura (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae): new combination and lectotype designations.

In this study, we revised the planthopper genus Toyoides Matsumura (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae) to include three species. The genus Epunka Matsumura be synonymized with Toyoides based on habitus and genital characteristics. The lectotype specimens have been designated for both T. albipennis and T. bilineata comb. n. Morphological information on T. bilineata comb. n. is presented, with photographs of the habitus and male genitalia provided. We have also provided the keys for the identification of related genera and species.

Two new species of the planthopper genus Metanigrus Tsaur, Yang & Wilson from China (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Meenoplidae), with an updated checklist and key to species.

Two new species of genus Metanigrus Tsaur, Yang & Wilson, 1986 (Fulgoromorpha, Meenoplidae), M. afflatus sp. nov. from Hainan Province and M. angularus sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, are described and illustrated, bringing the total number of species within the genus to 8. An updated checklist and identification key to known species of Metanigrus are provided.

From the dark side of paradise: a new natural replication of cave planthopper evolution from Hawaiian lava tubes (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae)

Abstract The Hawaiian Islands are known to harbour a rich and diverse fauna of troglobionts (obligate subterranean species). To date, 74 obligate cavernicolous arthropod species have been documented from across the main Hawaiian islands, the majority of which were from Hawaiʻi Island, and mostly from lava tubes of Kilauea volcano, the youngest volcano on the island. A recent bioinventory of the Kipuka Kanohina lava tube system on the south-western side of Mauna Loa volcano revealed the existence of previously unknown cave-adapted species. Among them is the first cave-adapted species of the planthopper genus Iolania, Iolania frankanstonei Hoch & Porter sp. nov. Morphological and molecular data suggest that the species is closely related to the epigean (i.e. surface-dwelling) species Iolania perkinsi, which occurs in surface environments on Hawaiʻi Island. Thus, parapatric speciation is assumed, further corroborating the assumption that adaptive shifts are the major evolutionary patterns underlying the evolution of troglobionts on young oceanic islands.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Trigava O'Brien, 1999 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae, Nersiini), with descriptions of two new species from Peru and Brazil.

The Neotropical planthopper genus Trigava O'Brien, 1999 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Dictyopharidae, Nersiini) is revised. Four species are included: T.brachycephala (Melichar, 1912) (the type species, from Peru), T.obrieni Song, Malenovský & Deckert, sp. nov. (from Brazil), T.peruensis Song, O'Brien & Bartlett, sp. nov. (from Peru), and T.recurva (Melichar, 1912) (from Bolivia and Peru). Lectotypes are designated for Igavabrachycephala Melichar, 1912 and Igavarecurva Melichar, 1912. All species are described, including habitus photographs and detailed illustrations of the male genitalia. Male and female genitalia are described for this genus for the first time. A key for identification of the species of Trigava and a distribution map are provided.

A new species of the genus Cheiloceps Uhler, 1895 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae) from the Dominican amber.

A new species of the planthopper genus Cheiloceps Uhler, 1895 (Issidae, Issinae, Thioniini), Cheiloceps magnifrons sp. nov., is described from the Dominican amber. Issidae fossils are briefly discussed.

Six new species in the genus Innobindus Jacobi 1928 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Brixiini)

Six new species are described in the Australian planthopper genus Innobindus Jacobi, 1928. A new species group, the artus group, is created for Innobindus artus sp. nov., I. kaanti sp. nov. and I. loriensis sp. nov.; Innobindus gimani sp. nov. is added to the licinus group and I. geminatus sp. nov. to the multimaculatus group. Another new species, Innobindus oppositus sp. nov., could not be assigned to a species group as it shows unique features within Innobindus regarding forewing venation and chaetotaxy. A checklist and identification key to males of all 13 species of Innobindus is provided. Innobindus is endemic to the eastern parts of New South Wales and Queensland, distribution maps for each species are presented

A new species and new combination in the planthopper genus Cheiloceps Uhler (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Miocene Dominican amber

Cheiloceps arachnophila sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved adult male, representing the second species of Issidae known from Early Miocene (Burdigalian) Dominican amber. The only previously described issid from Dominican amber is transferred from Thionia Stål to Cheiloceps Uhler: Cheiloceps douglundbergi (Stroiński & Szwedo) comb. nov. Comparative notes on Cheiloceps and Thionia are provided.

A new bamboo-feeding planthopper genus Aodingus Chen & Li (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Delphacidae: Tropidocephalini) with descriptions of three new species from China and Vietnam

A new planthopper genus, Aodingus Chen & Li gen. nov. and three new species (A. hainanensis Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov., A. obscurus Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov. and A. cuongi Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov.) are described from China and Vietnam. The new genus is superficially similar to Procidelphax Bartlett, 2009 in general appearance in that the body is strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Distinctive features of the new taxon include broadly compressed body with vertex broad, apical margin broadly rounded, middle part concave, median and submedian carinae absent, frons broad and large, wider at base than at apex, forewing broad and long, aedeagus tubular, curved ventrally. A diagnosis for all species, illustrations and an identification key of new genus are provided. A key to the Chinese genera of Tropidocephalini is also provided.

The Australian issid planthopper genus Orinda Kirkaldy, 1907: New subgenera, new species, host plant and identification key (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Issidae)

A new subgenus of Orinda Kirkaldy, 1907, Montorinda subgen. nov., is described to accommodate two new species from southeastern Queensland, O. (Montorinda) eungellana sp. nov. from Eungella National Park and O. (Montorinda) montana sp. nov. from Mount Walsh National Park. The new species are compared to the other species of the genus and a new subgenus Scapulorinda subgen. nov. is described to accommodate Orinda (Scapulorinda) scapularis (Jacobi, 1928), leaving a single species in the subgenus Orinda: O. (Orinda) lucindae (Kirkaldy, 1906). Illustrations of the male holotype, a female paratype and male genitalia are provided for both new species as well as habitus and wing of O. (Scapulorinda) scapularis (Jacobi, 1928), the most closely related species, for comparison. The type series of the O. (Montorinda) montana sp. nov. was collected on Grevillea whiteana Mc Gill. (Proteaceae). The genus Orinda is only recorded from Queensland and now contains four species.

Two new species of the planthopper genus Deferunda Distant from China (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Achilidae), with the first description of the male of Deferunda acuminata Chou & Wang

Two new species of the genus Deferunda Distant, 1912, D. dentata sp. nov. and D. interanea sp. nov. from China (Shandong and Hainan provinces, respectively), are described and illustrated, bringing the total number of species within the genus to 17. The male genitalia of D. acuminata Chou & Wang, 1985 is described and illustrated for the first time. Geographical information, a checklist and key to all known species of Deferunda are provided.

Gigasanalis, a new genus of the tribe Achilini with the description of a new species from China (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Achilidae)

A new planthopper genus, Gigasanalis Long & Chen gen. nov. (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Achilidae, Achilinae, Achilini) is established from South China (Hainan Province). A new species, Gigasanalis jianfenglingensis Long & Chen sp. nov., is described and illustrated.

A new genus and species of family Mimarachnidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoroidae) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, northern Myanmar

A new planthopper genus Tenebricosus gen. nov. from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber with its type species Tenebricosus coriaceus sp. nov. is described in the family Mimarachnidae. The new genus and species is the fourteenth genus and 22nd species of the extinct family Mimarachnidae, which is the most diverse planthopper family among Kachin amber inclusion. This genus can be distinguished from the preciously described genera in tegmen venation, with stem ScP + R shorter than the common stem ScP + R + MP, stem MP with two terminals in margin, costal cell broad and tegmen coriaceous with length/width ratio about 2.4. Diagnostic features of the new genus are briefly discussed.

Revision of the genus Lethierium Dlabola, 1980 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Issidae), with description of two new species from Central Morocco.

North-African planthopper genus Lethierium Dlabola, 1980 is revised. Lethierium cedricolum (Dlabola, 1989), L. juniperi (Bergevin, 1915), and L. reiberi (Lethierry, 1878) are redescribed, with new records provided. Two new species are described from Central MoroccoL. carinatum sp. nov. from Middle Atlas Mountains and L. grandilobum sp. nov. from High Atlas Mountains. L. juniperi is recorded for the first time from Morocco. A key to species of the genus is provided. The phylogenetic relationships of Lethierium Dlabola within the subfamily Hysteropterinae are discussed.

Two new bamboo-feeding species of the genus Kirbyana Distant, 1906 from China (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae).

Two new bamboo-feeding species of the cixiid planthopper genus Kirbyana Distant, 1906 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Eucarpiini), K. aspina Zhi & Chen, sp. nov. and K. furcata Zhi & Chen, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from southern China. A key to all known species and a map of their geographic distributions are provided.

Review the bamboo-feeding genus Arcofaciella Fennah, 1956 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae) with description of a new species from India

The planthopper genus Arcofaciella Fennah, 1956 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae) is reviewed. Four species are recognized, of which A. obflexa Guo & Liang, 2005 and A. verrucosa Fennah, 1956 are redescribed, and one new species, A. indiana sp. nov., is described. Habitus photos for adults and illustrations of male genitalia (excluding A. penangensis (Muir, 1919)) are given. A key for identifying the species of Arcofaciella is also provided.

First record of the genus Augilina Melichar, 1914 (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Caliscelidae) from China, with descriptions of two new bamboo-feeding species

The planthopper genus Augilina Melichar, 1914, is recorded in China for the first time. Two new species of the genus Augilina, A. tetraina Chen & Gong sp. nov. and A. triaina Chen & Gong sp. nov., are described and illustrated from South China. The genus now has a total of four described species. New generic characteristics are proposed and photographs of the new species are provided. A checklist and a key to the species of Augilina are also included.

Revision of the lanternfly genus Limois Stål, 1863 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae) with description of a new species from China

All extant species of the planthopper genus Limois Stål (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae) were studied. One new species, Limois sordida sp. nov., is described and illustrated from China. Six known species are re-described and photos and illustrations of male genitalia are provided. A key to all extant species of this genus is also given.

Revision of the Australian planthopper genus Monomalpha Emeljanov with the description of the new genus Latissima (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae: Cixiini).

The Australian planthopper genus Monomalpha Emeljanov, 2000 is reviewed. Males of M. gratiosa Emeljanov, 2000, a species originally described from a single female specimen, are presented for the first time. A new species, M. stenocara from Queensland is described. Together with the type species M. gratiosa, recorded from Queensland and mainland NSW, and M. fletcheri Emeljanov, 2000, a species endemic to Lord Howe Island (New South Wales) there are now three species recognised in the genus Monomalpha. A new endemic genus, Latissima gen. nov., is created within Cixiini to accommodate a new species from Queensland, Latissima isleyensis sp. nov. Identification keys to the genera of Australian Cixiini and to the species of Monomalpha are presented and host plant relationships discussed, including the first record of an Australian cixiid from the tree fern family Cyatheaceae.

Five new species of the planthopper genus Atracis Stål (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Flatidae) from China

This paper treats the planthopper genus, Atracis Stål, 1866 (Flatidae: Flatoidinae) in China. Five new species, A. ocularia sp. nov., A. patefacta sp. nov., A. punctulata sp. nov., A. sphaerica sp. nov. and A. ungulata sp. nov., are described and a checklist of all its known species from China is provided.