The Neotropical Psylloidea (Homoptera: Insecta): an annotated check list

Summary

The 242 species of jumping plant lice (Homoptera: Psylloidea) recorded from the Neotropical region are listed under their respective genera. Information is given on synonymy, host plant range and distribution. The taxonomic position of the problematical groups is discussed. The check list is supplemented by a taxonomic list of host plants and their associated psyllids.     

The Nearctic Psylloidea (Insecta: Homoptera): an annotated check list

The 302 species of jumping plant lice (Insecta: Homoptera: Psylloidea) recorded from the Nearctic zoogeographical region are listed under their respective genera. Information is given on synonymy, host plants and distribution; and the taxonomic position of problematical species is discussed. A list of host-plants and their associated psyllids in also included.     

The Pacific Iassine cicadellid genus Thalattoscopus (Homoptera)

The Pacific Iassine genus Thalattoscopus is revised and distinguished from Batracomorphus on external and male genitalic characters. Of 21 species included, 12 are newly described and two are treated as nomina dubia. A key to species is given, four new synonymies and eight new combinations are established.     

The status of Hemilecanium imbricans (Green) (Homoptera : Coccoidea) in Africa south of the Sahara

Summary

This paper describes the findings from two series of observations on variation in C. austropalpalis L. and R. In Series I the distribution of head capsule lengths of 174 larvae, collected from 11 breeding sites in S.E. Queensland, was polymodal. Polymodality was also shown by the wing lengths of 15♂, 27♀ reared from 7 of the sites. In Series II the head lengths of 302 larvae from 5 sites (one not in Series I) gave the same polymodality, interpreted as representing 3rd and 4th instars of two forms A (smaller) and B (larger). 276 of these larvae, grouped on head length, were reared on agar and small nematodes, producing 62♂, 70♀ C. austropalpalis and 13♂, 5♀ C. narrabeenensis. The latter was not the cause of the polymodality. Adult wing lengths were bimodal in each sex. Form B was longer winged than form A. Within each form there was no significant correlation between larval head length and adult wing length. Only one of the many additional characters (19 in ♀; 22 in ♂) examined, differed between the two forms. Form B had more distinctly patterned wings with the intercalary pale spot more obvious. The results are discussed.     

The tortoise caterpillar: carnivory and armoured larval morphology of the metalmark butterfly Pachythone xanthe (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

ABSTRACT

The natural history and morphology of the later instars and pupa of the metalmark butterfly Pachythone xanthe H. Bates are described and illustrated for the first time. The caterpillars are myrmecophilous and carnivorous, feeding on scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) tended by Azteca cf. chartifex Forel (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) ants and appear to be physically shielded from potential ant attacks by a carapace-like body that protects the head and appendages. In addition, the larvae present several types of specialised setae and ant-organs such as perforated cupola organs, glandular openings and functional tentacle nectary organs that may be related to appeasement of aggressive ant behaviour. Our results reveal the first detailed life cycle data for the Pachythonina subtribe and record a new independent origin of carnivory in Riodinidae.     

The deltocephaline leafhopper genus Hishimonoides in the Indian subcontinent (Homoptera)

The genus Hishimonides and the species Hishimonoides orientalis Mahmood are redefined. Three new species of the genus, namely H. arbudae (from Rajasthan: Mount Abu), H. bougainvilleae (from Karnataka: Bangalore; Tamil Nadu: Burliar) and H. setosus (from Karnataka: Bandipur; Rajasthan: Mount Abu) are described and illustrated. A key to the seven species known in the genus is given. H. bougainvilleae was found on Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (Nyctaginaceae).     

Systematics and biology of the Rhinocolinae (Homoptera: Psylloidea)

Based on a cladistic analysis, the subfamily Rhinocolinae is redefined to comprise 13 genera and 39 species, of which two genera and eight species remain unnamed. Four new genera and 14 new species are described; one subfamily and one genus are synonymized, and two species are recombined; one lectotype is designated. The subfamily is divided into two groups, one with a Gondwanan distribution comprising four genera in Australia, New Zealand, South America and Africa, and another with Laurasian distribution in the Palaeotropics, the Western Palaerctic and North America comprising nine genera. Twenty-one species develop on host plants in the Rutales, three on Asteraceae, three on Cistaceae and one on Zygophyllaceae. The genus Pistacia (Anacardiaceae) in particular hosts six species whose biology is discussed.     

The stylet structure of a leafhopper (Eupteryx melissae Curtis: Homoptera,Cicadellidae)

Summary

The structure of the mandibular and maxillary stylets of the leafhopper Eupteryx melissae Curtis is described and comparisons made between them and the stylets of Heteroptera and other Homoptera with particular reference to the apical barbs, the marginal hairs and the stylet cavities. Maxillary barbs are absent but the flanges of both pairs of stylets bear microtrichia, those of the maxillaires much reduced. The axial stylet cavity of the mandibular is single, but that of the maxillary bifurcated distally: there is some evidence that the cavities of both pairs of stylets contain nerve fibres. The salivary canal is confined to the right maxillary stylet and both it and the food canal maintain constant dimensions along the stylet shaft so facilitating movement of one stylet upon the other, an important feature during plant penetration. There is some evidence, particularly from staining reactions, that the stylets contain resilin, but if present, it is overlaid and masked physically and functionally by chitinous cuticle.     

Natural history of Kermesidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in Israel

Aspects of the biology and life history of six Kermesidae species were studied in Israel between the years 2010 and 2013, namely five species of Kermes Boitard: Kermes echinatus Balachowsky, K. greeni Bodenheimer, K. hermonensis Spodek & Ben-Dov, K. nahalali Bodenheimer and K. spatulatus Balachowsky and one species of Nidularia, N. balachowskii Bodenheimer. All six species are oviparous, bi-sexual, univoltine and oligophagous on Quercus spp. (Fagaceae). The five Kermes species spend the winter, summer and autumn as first-instar nymphs, while it is the mated adult female of N. balachowskii that occurs during this period. The geographic distribution and host trees in Israel are reported for each of the six Kermesidae species. Information about associated ant fauna is also discussed.     

Cave-dwelling Fulgoroidea (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha) from the Canary Islands

Examination of Fulgoroid specimens collected in several caves of volcanic origin on the Canary Islands (Tenerife, El Hierro) has revealed the existence of at least two undescribed troglobitic Fulgoroid species. These are apparently the first records of troglobitic Auchenorrhyncha, not only from the Middle Atlantic Islands, but from the Palaeartic Region. These cavernicolous taxa belong to the families Cixiidae (Tachycixius lavatubus sp. nov.) and Meenoplidae (Meenoplus cancavus sp. nov.). Possible pathways towards the evolution of troglobitic forms in Auchenorrhyncha and ways of speciation—sympatric or allopatric—for T. lavatubus sp. nov. and its epigean relative Tachycixius canariensis (Lindberg) are discussed. These findings suggest that cavernicolous Homoptera are more widely distributed over the world than was previously assumed.     

Aestivating sexual morphs in the aphid genus Thelaxes (Insecta: Homoptera)

The sexual morphs of the aphid Thelaxes dryophila are redescribed and compared with the sexuales of other Thelaxes species. The unusual life-cycle of the species, in which the immature sexuales pass the entire summer aestivating, is also described.     

A review of the species of Neococcidencyrtus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasites of diaspidid scale insects

A key is provided to the 18 known species of Neococcidencyrtus. Platylyca is synonymized with Neococcidencyrtus and its type-species, quadraticeps, is transferred to Neococcidencyrtus. The following species are described as new: brenhindis, cleddis, cliradainis, colynis, cullainis, delis, dryslydis, hynodis, melynis, selogis, synodis, and two further undescribed species are keyed but not formally described. All available published information on the biology and distribution of each species is listed and the pest status of the hosts is included.     

Genus Paralidia with descriptions of new species (Homoptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae)

Five new species of Harasupia in the tribe Teruliini are described and illustrated. These include austini, baja, mexicana, retrorsa , and ungula , all from Mexico. A revised key to 12 known species is also given.     

Taxonomic review of Coccobius species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from China,with notes on their use in biological control of scale insect pests (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and description of a new species

The Chinese species of the genus Coccobius Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are reviewed. Sixteen species, C. abdominis Huang, C. annulicornis Ratzeburg, C. azumai Tachikawa, C. chaoi Huang, C. curtifuniculatus Huang, C. flaviceps (Girault & Dodd), C. flavicornis Compere & Annecke, C. fulvus (Compere & Annecke), C. furviflagellatus Huang, C. furvus Huang, C. languidus Huang, C. longialatus Huang, C. longifuniculatus Huang, C. maculatus Huang, C. wuyiensis Huang, and one new species, Coccobius albiscutellum Wang and Huang sp.nov., are treated. A key is provided for the recognition of the females of all Chinese species of Coccobius, and notes are given on their use in biological control of scale insect pests. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F510059B-F176-46BA-B7B5-8252B06BE91F     

A new species of Stomaphis Walker (Homoptera: Aphididae) from Czechoslovakia

Stomaphis bratislavensis sp. nov. is described from Quercus petraea near Bratislava. The apterous viviparous female, the apterous oviparous female and the apterous male are described. A key to European representatives of the genus Stomaphis is provided.