The genera of Australian Membracidae (Hemiptera : Auchenorrhyncha)

Abstract

The genera of Australian Membracidae (Hemiptera) are revised. Thirty seven genera are recognised. A key to the genera and illustrations of representatives of most genera provide aids to identification. All known genera are described using morphological characters, some of which have not been employed previously for the Membracidae. The following genera and species are described as new: Bunyella, gen. nov., Matumuia, gen. nov., Matumuia laura, sp. nov., Neocanthuchus, gen. nov., Neocanthuchus barringtonensis, sp. nov., Neocanthuchus tropicus, sp. nov., Neosextius, gen. nov., Neosextius longinotum, sp. nov., Neosextius yanda, sp. nov., Protinotus, gen. nov., Rentzia, gen. nov., Rentzia gabana, sp. nov., Rentzia yarla, sp. nov., Rigula, gen. nov., Rigula calperum, sp. nov., Rigula naumanni, sp. nov., Rigula yalkula, sp. nov., Strzeleckia, gen. nov., Strzeleckia montanus, sp. nov., Undarella, gen. nov., Undarella pulleni, sp. nov., Undarella storeyi, sp. nov. and Yangupia, gen. nov. The previously described species Centrotypus occidentalis Goding is transferred to Yangupia, gen. nov.; Acanthuchus dromedarius Kirkaldy is transferred to Bunyella, gen. nov.; Otinotus doddi Distant is transferred to Protinotus, gen. nov. Evidence is now strong that the single species of the following genera: Xiphistes Stål, Centrotypus Stål, Ibiceps Buckton, and Leptocentrus Stål, reported to have come from Australia, were, in fact, collected in countries overseas. These genera should no longer be included in the Australian fauna. The origins, biology and distribution of the indigenous membracids are briefly discussed in the light of the current understanding of the group.