M.D. Webb

Redescription of the thread-legged assassin bug Ploiaria anak (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from India, with notes on its biology

The thread-legged assassin bug species Ploiaria anak Distant, 1909 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from India is redescribed based on recently collected material from Pune District, India. Notes on the biology of the species and a key to species of the genus from India are provided. A lectotype is designated for P. anak. Both P. nuda and P. nude appear in the original description of the Ploiaria species described by Ravichandran Livingstone (1989); nuda is selected as the correct original spelling. As this name is a junior homonym of P. nuda Miller, 1950, it is replaced by the new name P. raviaspinosa nom. nov.

Description of two new idiocerine leafhoppers of the genus Chinaocerus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from southwestern China

The leafhopper genus Chinaocerus Zhang Li (Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae) currently includes three species, C. bispinatus Zhang Li (type species), C. kangdingensis Zhang Li and C. shii Zhang Li from southwestern China. Two new species, C. tubulatus Zhang Webb sp. nov. and C. sexspinosus Zhang Webb sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, are here described and a checklist and key to species are provided.

Review of the leafhopper genus Penthimia Germar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the Indian subcontinent with description of seven new species

Species of the leafhopper genus Penthimia Germar known from the Indian subcontinent are reviewed based on the examination of type specimens. Seven new species of the genus, Penthimia curvata sp. nov. (Karnataka: Bandipur), P. meghalayensis sp. nov. (Meghalaya: Nangpoh), P. neoattenuata sp. nov. (India: Tamil Nadu), P. ribhoi sp. nov. (India: Meghalaya), P. sahyadrica sp. nov. (Karnataka: Dharmasthala, Agumbe; Kerala: Thekkady), P. spiculata sp. nov. (Karnataka: Nagarahole) and P. tumida sp. nov. (Tamil Nadu: Ootacamund; Kerala: Munnar) are described. The following nomenclatorial changes are proposed: Penthimia alba Zahniser, McKamey Dmitriev, 2012 (replacement name for P. thoracica Distant, 1918, nec Panzer, 1799), syn. nov. of P. quadrinotata Distant, 1918; Neodartus scutellatus Distant, 1908 syn. nov. of Penthimia ereba Distant 1908; P. nilgiriensis Distant, 1918 syn. nov. of P. montana Distant, 1918; P. scutellata (Distant) comb. nov. (from genus Neodartus); a lectotype is designated for P. maculosa Distant, stat. revived, thereby removing its synonymy with P. scapularis Distant. The following other lectotypes are designated: P. attenuata Distant, P. subniger Distant, P. scapularis Distant, P. distanti Baker, P. ereba Distant, N. scutellatus Distant, P. fraterna Distant, P. funebris Distant, P. juno Distant, P. maculosa Distant, P. montana Distant, P. noctua Distant, P. quadrinotata Distant, P. alba Zahniser, McKamey Dmitriev. Examination of types of Penthimia rufopunctata Motschulsky revealed that it belongs to Penthimia and hence it is transferred back to that genus from Neodartus, revised placement. The following species previously included in the genus Penthimia are transferred to the genera Tambila Distant and Vulturnus Kirkaldy: Tambila badia (Distant) comb. nov., T. majuscula (Distant) comb. nov., T. vittatifrons (Distant) comb. nov., T. variabilis (Distant) comb. nov. and Vulturnus flavocapitata (Distant) comb. nov. Three species are treated in a new Penthimia compacta Walker complex, i.e., Penthimia compacta Walker 1851, Penthimia subniger Distant 1908 and Penthimia scapularis Distant 1908. All taxa are described and a key to Penthimiini genera found in the subcontinent and also a key to species of Penthimia are included.

A taxonomic review of the polymorphic assassin bug genus Rihirbus Stal (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae)

Two species in the genus Rihirbus Stål are recognized, redescribed and illustrated. The diagnosis of the genus is slightly modified. The deposition information of Millers type specimens is corrected. Rihirbus trochantericus Stål is newly recorded from Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. A key for the identification of species of Rihirbus is provided. The sexual dimorphism and polymorphism of this genus are briefly noted.

Four new species of the grass feeding leafhopper genus Nicolaus Lindberg (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the Indian subcontinent

The leafhopper genus Nicolaus Lindberg is recorded from India and Pakistan for the first time. Four new species, N. abuensis sp. nov., N. bidentatus sp. nov., N. cornutus sp. nov. and N. serratus sp. nov. are described and illustrated. N. bihamatus Xing & Li, earlier known from China is recorded from India and Pakistan. A key to the species of Nicolaus from the study area is provided.