Rong-Rong Wang

From micropterism to hyperpterism: recognition strategy and standardized homology-driven terminology of the forewing venation patterns in planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

Abstract Following recent advances in the morphological interpretations of the tegmen basal cell margins in the Paraneoptera, a standardized and homology-driven groundplan terminology for tegmina types, structures and vein patterns in Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha, including fossils, is proposed. Each term is listed with a morphological definition, compared and linked to the main systems of planthopper forewing description that have been reviewed. The importance of a standardized and homology-driven terminology is stressed to enhance the quality of data in taxonomic descriptions and to strengthen phylogenetic morphological analysis results. When the interpretation of the origin of vein branches is render difficult, a three-step strategy for pattern recognition of the vein is proposed based on two principles: (1) vein forks are more informative than topology of the vein branches: a search for homologous areas, the nodal cells in particular, must first guide the recognition rather the number of branches of a vein, and (2) minimum of ad hoc evolutionary events should be invoked in the understanding of a modified vein pattern. Examples of some conflicting interpretations of venation patterns in planthoppers are discussed within different families for both extant and extinct taxa. For the first time, the concept of brachypterism is defined in a non-relative way independently from other structures, and the new one of hyperpterism is proposed; a reporting system is proposed for each of them.

A new tropiduchid planthopper genus and species from China with descriptions of in copula genitalic structures (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

Abstract The new planthopper taxon, Garumnella bella gen.n., sp.n., from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated, including external morphology of adult and eggs and structures of the male and female genitalia. The new genus is compared with Garumna Melichar and Paragarumna Muir, resulting in Paragarumna (syn.n.) being placed as a junior synonym of Garumna, with two new combinations, i.e. Garumna pseudolepida (Muir) comb.n. and Garumna melichari Baker comb.rev. New locality records for Garumna species are given. The morphology of the genitalia and egg of a copulating pair of the new genus is investigated. The female has a ventrally sclerotized posterior vagina forming a torsion groove, an unusual long membranous anterior vagina and an enlarged common oviduct. During copulation both the aedeagus and the torsion groove appear tightly interlocked, which may help to maintain the copulatory position. The aedeagus is observed in the bursa copulatrix.

Recent Dispersal and Diet Relaxation Might Explain the Monotypic and Endemic Genus Montrouzierana Signoret, 1861 in New Caledonia (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae)

Abstract. The planthopper genus Montrouzierana Signoret, 1861 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae) and its only known endemic species to New Caledonia, M. oxycephala (Montrouzier, 1861), are redescribed. Illustrations of diagnostic characters including male and female genitalia are provided. The systematic position of the genus is briefly discussed. Morphological characters and distribution data suggest a recent dispersal event to New Caledonia, probably from Australia, linked with a possible relaxation/inhibition of ancestral constraints on feeding behaviour.

Testing Tropiduchini Stål 1866 (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae) monophyly, a young inter‐tropical taxon of mainly insular species: taxonomy, distribution patterns and phylogeny, with the description of a new genus from Papua New Guinea

A morphological phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Tropiduchini (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae) is provided for 21 genera among the 26 recognized, including the new genus Oechalinella Wang gen.n., with a new species Oechalinella bifasciata Wang sp.n. Monophyly of the tribe is well supported by synapomorphies derived from the male genitalia. The strict consensus supports two subclades: ((Montrouzierana + Thymbra) + Thaumantia+) as sister to the clade (Leptovanua + (Vanua + Varma+) + Daradacella+). In the first subclade, the clade (Montrouzierana + Thymbra), distributed in New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea, is well supported by three synapomorphies based on the tegmina, while the Thaumantia+ group is characterized by the conformation of the anal tube and male gonostyli, and distributed from Malesia to Papuasia and in Central Africa. The second subclade is largely distributed from China to Malesia, Papuasia, Southwestern and the Northwestern Pacific islands. The position of the genus Leptovanua remains uncertain. The Varma+ clade is recovered in all analyses. Implied weighting analysis placed the Varma+ lineage as sister to all other genera forming a new group (Leptovanua+ + ((Montrouzierana + Thymbra) + Thaumantia+)). Fennahs definition of Tropiduchini is reviewed according to the phylogenetic results and an identification key to all genera is provided with a referenced synopsis of their distribution. Globally, Tropiduchini exhibits an inter‐tropical latitudinal distribution and a paradoxical bimodal longitudinal distribution pattern in continental Africa, South‐east Asia and the Pacific islands. Distribution data concern nearly 80% of insular taxa. The phylogenetical results suggest that: (i) the tribe originates from continental China; (ii) it evolved mainly from Papuasia by stepping‐stone colonization events, promoting subsequent insular speciation; and (iii) its evolution has mainly been directed by dispersion versus vicariance.

First fossil record of Caliscelidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea): a new Early Miocene Dominican amber genus extends the distribution of Augilini to the Neotropics

A new extinct genus and new species, Quizqueiplana alexbrowni gen. et sp. nov. of the tribe Augilini Baker belonging to the family Caliscelidae Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Fulgoroidea), is described from Early Miocene Dominican amber. This is the first fossil record of this planthopper family and an unexpected occurrence of the tribe Augilini from the Neotropical region. Augilini are only known from extant taxa in South-East Asia and Madagascar, as shown in a checklist of taxa in the tribe with their distributions. Biogeographical consequences for the Augilini lineage, now with a so-called Gondwanian disjunction pattern, are discussed. Host-plant data suggest that ancestral Augilini fed on Bambusoideae. A Late Palaeocene Laurasian origin for the lineage with later dispersal events, or an older Indo-Malagasian lineage with an early vicariance and later dispersion events, remain two possible explanations of the origin of the Augilini. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A5307860-2947-4EBA-BD12-E71E78CC535E

Review of the Paricanini (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae)

Abstract The genera of Tropiduchidae tribe Paricanini are discussed and their key to identification of the genera is given and key characters illustrated. The new genus Lukabales gen. nov. with a new species Lukabales ecarinatus sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in montane areas of Cambodia and Thailand.

Review of Lavora Muir (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae) with descriptions of two new species from Solomon Islands

The planthopper genus Lavora Muir, 1931 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Tropiduchidae) is reviewed and seven species, including two new species, are recognized: L. anchora Fennah, 1949 (Russell Island), L. fuscimarginata Fennah, 1949 (San Cristobal, Ugi Island), L. longispinosa Wang, sp.n. (Guadalcanal Island, Isabel Island), L. ricanoides Muir, 1931 (Guadalcanal Island), L. sanctaeisabelae Fennah, 1949 (Santa Isabel Island), L. similis Wang, sp.n. (New Georgia Island) and L. straminea Fennah, 1949 (Vella Lavella Island). The female of L. ricanoides Muir, and L. fuscimarginata are recorded for the first time. Redescriptions of the genus and species based on the newly found female and other specimens are provided. A distribution map and key to the known species of this genus are also given.

Relating antennal sensilla diversity and possible species behaviour in the planthopper pest Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae)

Antennal sensory units in nymphs and adults of the spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae), an economically important plant pest, are studied with scanning electron microscopy. Sensilla trichodea / chaetica type recognition is based on their external morphology and ratio of their size to diameter. The flagellum Bourgoin’s organ is a complex sensory unit with 2–3 internal sensilla coeloconica. During nymphal stages, the sensory surface available for a chemoreceptive function particularly increases with the number and size of sensilla placodea on the antennal pedicel. From first to fourth instar and to adult males and females, plate organ sensory surface is estimated to increase respectively by 33x, 68x and 125x (= 2.72 mm2 and 5.02 mm2 respectively for males and females). The most important increase (5x) occurs between second and third instar. In parallel, a distinctive pair of plate organs on the flagellum decreases in size from first to third instar, and disappears. Sexual dimorphism occurs in sensilla placodea in adults. Diversity, disparity and evolution of nymphal sensilla, and their sexual dimorphism in adults are discussed in the context of the species and planthopper behaviour.

Review of the Lispe caesia-group (Diptera: Muscidae) from Palaearctic and adjacent regions, with redescriptions and one new synonymy.

Species of Lispe caesia-group from Palaearctic and adjacent regions are reviewed. Diagnostic characters of this group are updated. One new synonymy is established: L. frontalis Zielke, 1972, syn. nov. for L. leucocephala Loew, 1856. Key to males of ten species (with two subspecies) from Palaearctic, Oriental and Ethiopian regions is given. Nine species (with two subspecies) are photographed. Six species and one subspecies are redescribed. More detailed ultrastructural or external characters for male swollen hind tarsi and the wing interference patterns are also provided.

A revision of the endemic Australian spittlebug genus Anyllis Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) with descriptions of two new species

The endemic Australian spittlebug genus Anyllis Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae) is revised and five species including two new species are recognized: Anyllis gibbosus sp. nov. (Queensland), Anyllis leiala Kirkaldy, 1906 (type species, throughout the eastern part of Australia from north Queensland to Tasmania), Anyllis pseudotiegsi sp. nov. (Tasmania), Anyllis spinostylus Liang, 2005 (Tasmania) and Anyllis tiegsi (China, 1952) (Victoria and the higher parts of southeast New South Wales). Descriptions or redescriptions of the genus and its included species are provided together with the dorsal habitus of the adults and the structural illustrations of the head, pronotum, scutellum and male genitalia. A diagnostic key is given for differentiation of the known species.