Thierry Bourgoin

A Higher Level Classification of All Living Organisms

We present a consensus classification of life to embrace the more than 1.6 million species already provided by more than 3,000 taxonomists’ expert opinions in a unified and coherent, hierarchically ranked system known as the Catalogue of Life (CoL). The intent of this collaborative effort is to provide a hierarchical classification serving not only the needs of the CoL’s database providers but also the diverse public-domain user community, most of whom are familiar with the Linnaean conceptual system of ordering taxon relationships. This classification is neither phylogenetic nor evolutionary but instead represents a consensus view that accommodates taxonomic choices and practical compromises among diverse expert opinions, public usages, and conflicting evidence about the boundaries between taxa and the ranks of major taxa, including kingdoms. Certain key issues, some not fully resolved, are addressed in particular. Beyond its immediate use as a management tool for the CoL and ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), it is immediately valuable as a reference for taxonomic and biodiversity research, as a tool for societal communication, and as a classificatory “backbone” for biodiversity databases, museum collections, libraries, and textbooks. Such a modern comprehensive hierarchy has not previously existed at this level of specificity.

Planthopper family Issidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha): linking molecular phylogeny with classification.

A molecular phylogeny of the planthopper family Issidae (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea) is provided using both Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. The phylogeny is based on 18S, two parts of 28S, COXI and Cytb genes from 50 genera and 79 ingroup species (including 8 species recently excluded from Issidae). As with the only few previous studies, an important taxonomic impediment is observed with the sampling; however for the first time, all analyses depict several fully supported lineages, which challenge the recent proposed modern classification of the family. It also highlights a strong coherence between these lineages and their respective geographical distribution. All previously excluded taxa are confirmed as not being part of the Issidae as recently defined which monophyly is confirmed. Accordingly, a new classification of the family is proposed with 3 subfamilies and 7 tribes as follows. Neotropical issid Thioniini in Thioniinae stat. rev. is re-established as an independent lineage sister to all other Issidae. Palaearctic Issidae are weakly supported as a monophyletic lineage, Issinae stat. nov., including 2 tribes: Issini stat. nov. (genera Issus and Latissus) and Hysteropterini stat. rev. (all other Palaearctic genera). Oriental Issidae form a strongly supported monophyletic subfamily group Hemisphaeriinae stat. rev. including 4 tribes: Kodaianellini trib. nov., Sarimini trib. nov., Parahiraciini Cheng & Yang, 1991, and Hemisphaeriini Melichar, 1906, the latter including 2 subtribes: Mongolianina s.trib. nov., and Hemisphaeriina Melichar, 1906. A Neotropical lineage including the genus Picumna is provisionally placed in incertae sedis within the Hemisphaeriinae stat. nov.

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

New Genera and New Species of the Tribe Elicini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Tropiduchidae) with Key to Tropiduchid Genera Known from Madagascar

Abstract. n The family Tropiduchidae Stål in Madagascar according to distribution and relationships of genera is discussed. A key to all tropiduchid genera as well as the checklist of species known from Madagascar are proposed. Two new genera of the tribe Elicini Melichar, Bolitropis gen. nov. with 6 new species (B. irwini sp. nov., B. montanus sp. nov., B. olsufievi sp. nov., B. imperator sp. nov., B. strobilus sp. nov., B. synavei sp. nov.) and Bambomada gen. nov. with a single new species B. flava sp. nov. are described.

Singing in the Namoroka Caves, First Record In Situ for a Cave Dwelling Insect: Typhlobrixia namorokensis (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae)

This is the first substrate-borne communication record of the troglobitic planthopper Typhlobrixia namorokensis in the caves of the Ambovonomby network, Namoroka Tsingy, Madagascar. A supplementary morphological description of the male genitalia is provided and, for the first time, female genitalia of T. namorokensis are characterized. Molecular data were obtained for T. namorokensis; molecular analysis also reveals the presence of another (yet unidentified) cavernicolous cixiid in the Antsifotra caves network. The evolutionary origin of T. namorokensis is discussed. Its adaptation to caves and its behaviour allows its identification as a true troglobiont. Its vibrational signal structure is compared to the calls of other cave-dwelling cixiids.

Morphological phylogeny of Dictyopharidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha): Phylogeny of Dictyopharidae

To explore the phylogenetic basis of the current classification of Dictyopharidae, especially the relationships among the tribes of Dictyopharinae, we present the first cladistic analysis of this family based on 146 morphological characters of adults. Our analysis includes 104 of 125 recognized genera and subgenera within 12 extant tribes of Dictyopharinae, plus nine genera representing all four tribes of Orgeriinae. The results of this study support Dictyopharidae as a monophyletic group with Aluntiini sister to the remaining Dictyopharidae, but do not support Orgeriinae as sister to Dictyopharinae. Seven major lineages – Aluntiini, Arjunini, Hastini, (Taosiniu2009+u2009Lappidini)u2009+u2009Nersiini, a Xenochasma+ complex (including ‘Orgeriinae’), Orthopagini, and Dictyopharini – are recovered in Dictyopharidae. The Xenochasma+ complex is proposed here and includes Xenochasma clade + (Scoloptini +u2009((Fernandea cladeu2009+u2009Phylloscelini)u2009+u2009(Rancodiniu2009+u2009[Capeniniu2009+u2009Orgeriinae]))). Within this complex, some genera are of uncertain tribal placement, and the Orgeriinae are retained as a subfamily until a molecular phylogeny can confirm the results of this paper. The implied weighting analysis supports the monophyly of most tribes of Dictyopharinae (except Taosini), the sister‐group relationships of (Taosiniu2009+u2009Lappidini) with Nersiini, and Orthopaginiu2009+u2009Dictyopharini, and the current tribal classification for Dictyopharinae. Most Dictyopharinae genera fit their respective tribal affiliation, but some proposed changes are that Pharodictyon, Paramisia, Dictyopharoides s.s., Chondrophana, Sicoris, Chondrodire, and Tupala are provisionally placed in Hastini; Pukuakanga is moved into Nersiini; Sinodictya and Raphiophora are transferred into Orthopagini; and Chiltana, Litocras, and Viridophara are placed in Dictyopharini.

The mythic species Issus analis Brullé, 1833 (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea, Issidae): still an enigmatic taxon

One Issidae specimen stored in Paris museum historical collections is reported as holotype of Issus analis Brullé, 1833. From the original description, which is confirmed by study of this specimen, the species is moved to the genus Zopherisca Emeljanov, 2001 under a new combination Zopherisca analis (Brullé, 1833), comb. n. Date of description is discussed and modified from 1832 to 1833 accordingly. Unfortunately being a female as type specimen, the species remains quite enigmatic until some molecular analsysis could be undertaken on this old material.

A new tribe of Tropiduchidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) with revision of the genus Buca and description of asymmetric hind leg spinulation

Abstract A new tribe Bucini trib. nov. is erected for the genus Buca Walker, 1858 in Tropiduchidae (Elicinae), with a discussion of tribal features with respect to the New World fauna. Two new species of Buca are described from Ecuador (Buca asymmetrospinata sp. nov.) and French Guiana (Buca truncoptera sp. nov.). Keys to Buca species and to higher taxa of New World Tropiduchidae are provided. Male and female genitalia of Buca species are illustrated for the first time.

A new genus of the tribe Parahiraciini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Issidae) from Southern China.

A new genus Tetricodissus gen. nov. with one new species Tetricodissus pandlineus sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated in the tribe Parahiraciini of planthopper family Issidae. Fortunia jianfenglingensis Chen, Zhang & Chang, 2014 is transferred into the genus Bardunia Stål, 1863. A key to genera of the tribe Parahiraciini is provided and the taxonomic position of the new genus in Parahiraciini is discussed.