Birgit Löcker

Taxonomic and phylogenetic revision of the Gelastocephalini (Hemiptera: Cixiidae)

Planthoppers of the family Cixiidae Spinola, 1839 are economically important owing to their ability to transmit phytoplasmas causing yellows-type diseases. The tribe Gelastocephalini Emeljanov, one of 16 tribes within the subfamily Cixiinae, has never been revised comprehensively. Twenty new genera (Aubirestus, Balyadimetopia, Barbonia, Candicarina, Corylonga, Fletcherolus, Gelastocaledonia, Gurrundus, Guttala, Hartliebia, Holgus, Larivierea, Lipsia, Melanoclypeus, Novotarberus, Payastylus, Rokebia, Schuerrera, Wernindia, Yarnikada) and 50 new species (Aubirestus semicirculatus, Balyadimetopia frederi, B. krahalla, B. marci, Barbonia spectabilis, Candicarina geroldi, C. pulchra, Carolus carinatus, C. stiriae, Corylonga aaroni, C. krottendorfi, C. leighi, C. lobata, C. loisae, C. mahmudae, C. triangula, Fletcherolus lanceolatus, F. monospinosus, Gelastocaledonia monteithi, Gelastocephalus velifer, Gurrundus fuscomarginatus, G. nectostylus, Guttala bernhardtae, G. mona, G. nickeli, G. robierae, Hartliebia towinna, Holgus ancistrus, H. liafredis, H. spiralis, H. unispinosus, Larivierea yalthi, L. yokunna, Lipsia mystrostylus, Melanoclypeus cristatus, M. uncinatus, Novotarberus flagellospinosus, N. pseudorphninus, N. remanei, Payastylus brichrius, P. gekiae, P. kernae, Rokebia australis, Ronaldia emeljanovi, Schuerrera clypeocarinata, S. ecarinata, ,Wernindia bubalis, W. lorda, W. rhomboidea, Yarnikada ulliae) are described. This increases the number of known Gelastocephalini from seven to 27 genera and from nine to 60 species. A new combination, Novotarberus jacobii, is proposed for Gelastocephalus jacobii from New Caldedonia and Cixius merula was transferred into the genus Schuerrera, resulting in a new combination, Schuerrera merula. A preliminary cladistic analysis of morphological data including all species of Gelastocephalini supported the monophyly of the tribe and its genera. The short male anal style is recognised as a synapomorphy for the tribe. The subtribe Rhigedanina was shown to be monophyletic whereas Gelastocephalina is paraphyletic. Three alternative hypotheses are presented to explain the current distribution of the tribe, which is restricted to Australia and New Caledonia. The species Novotarberus jacobii and Gelastocaledonia monteithi seem to be Gondwanan relicts.

Revision of the Australian species of Aka White, 1879 (Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with the description of a new genus

The Australian species of the genus Aka White are revised. Seven new species are described: A. balma sp. nov., A. dobsonensis sp. nov., A. gwana sp. nov., A. issidopsis sp. nov., A. kuraka sp. nov., A. pirri sp. nov., A. sorellensis sp. nov. Adding to those the 5 species solely occurring in New Zealand, we have a total number of 14 species in Aka. The types of A. hardyi Muir, 1931 and part of the type series including the holotype of A. tasmani Muir, 1931 are declared lost. However, based on the original descriptions and the remaining type material, these species have been matched with new material examined and are redescribed in this paper. Neotypes are designated for A. hardyi and A. tasmani. A new monotypic genus Yanganaka gen. nov. is described from Australia. Based on characters such as the general shape of the body as well as a forked frontal carina it appears to be closely related to Aka and the New Zealand genus Chathamaka Larivière, 1999. Yanganaka ariecornia sp. nov. is described and illustrated. An identification key to differentiate between the two genera occurring in Australia, Aka and Yanganaka, is provided. Information on how to distinguish Chathamaka from the latter two genera, as well as a key to identify all Australian species of Aka is presented. Host plant associations are discussed which support the hypothesis that Aka is a Gondwanan relict.

Taxonomic revision of Calamister Kirkaldy, 1906 (Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with the description of a new species

Calamister obscurus Kirkaldy, 1906 is redescribed, illustrated and a lectotype designated from the type series. A new species, C. cougalensis, is added to the genus. An identification key is provided and morphological characters discussed. Doubts are raised about a specimen published as C. obscurus by Jacobi (1928).

Shedding light on Jacobi's types whilst discovering new species: a taxonomic revision of Leptolamia Metcalf, 1936 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae).

The Australian endemic planthopper genus Leptolamia is revised taxonomically. Lectotypes are designated for Australoma praetextata Jacobi, 1928, Australoma praetextata var. obscura Jacobi, 1928 and Leptochlamys compressa Kirkaldy, 1907, and the former two are synonymised as Leptolamia praetextata (Jacobi). Thirteen new species of Leptolamia are described: Leptolamia absona sp. nov., L. bunyaensis sp. nov., L. bifurcata sp. nov., L. conicula sp. nov., L. contraria sp. nov., L. glaciata sp. nov., L. gloriosa sp. nov., L. jacobii sp. nov., L. juliae sp. nov., L. kulija sp. nov., L. lunata sp. nov., L. radicula sp. nov. and L. sonjae sp. nov. All species are described/redescribed and illustrated. Identification keys to species are provided and host plant information given, where available.