No abstract

-The hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha comprises a rich assemblage of plant feeding species, many of which are widespread in distribution and act as vectors of viral and fungal diseases affecting plants. Species level identifications in this group generally are possible only by examination of male specimens; prior DNA barcode analyses of a limited range of Auchenorrhyncha indicate that this approach may provide an expedient means to identify species within this diverse group. In this study we explored the utility of DNA barcoding for identification of a wider range of Auchenorrhyncha species than has been examined previously. Diverse fulgoroid (planthopper) and membracoid (leafhopper and allies) Auchenorrhyncha were sampled from Barrow Island, Western Australia, and identified to the least inclusive taxonomic units using morphology. DNA barcodes from 546 adult specimens were obtained and analysed using a General mixed Yule -Coalescent (GMYC) modelling approach to genetically delimit putative species, as a comparison to the morphospecies identifications. Additional DNA barcodes (N = 106) were obtained from nymphs and these were compared to adult DNA barcodes to identify species present among immature specimens.Among adult specimens, 73 species were congruently delimited by morphology and genetic analyses when modelled using a single threshold GMYC. Congruence between morphological and molecular species assignments was greatly reduced when the Yule -Coalescent transition was allowed to vary across genetic lineages. In a separate DNA barcode analysis of all specimens using neighbour joining distance metrics, nymphs and physically degraded specimens were in most cases genetically linked to adult conspecifics. Ten genetic clades detected among the nymphs were not observed among adults and did not match pre-existing sequence accessions in GenBank or DNA barcode records in BOLD.Of the 73 adult Auchenorrhyncha species congruently identified by DNA barcoding and morphology, most were Cicadellidae (N = 53 morphospecies), the remaining 20 morphospecies were sparsely representative of ten other families. Formal identifications to species level were available for only 36% of these 73 morphospecies, owing mainly to an absence of diagnostic male specimens within many of the delimited species. Indeterminate species detected among adults and nymphs are designated with interim species codes.The work presented here demonstrates that DNA barcoding is likely to be a powerful investigative tool for identifying and understanding species limits in the Auchenorrhyncha, particularly if it is used within an integrative taxonomic framework.

A morphological and molecular review of the genus Orosius Distant (Deltocephalinae: Opsiini) was undertaken using male genitalia and DNA barcoding. We recognise 14 valid species of the genus, of which two were indeterminate, based on females only and recognised only by DNA barcodes. Orosius argentatus (Evans) stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with Orosius orientalis (Matsumura) after DNA barcoding demonstrated that the two species are distinct; small but consistent differences in the male genitalia are also found to support the two species hypothesis. The other species, recognised on male genitalia, are confirmed with DNA barcode sequence data. These species are Orosius albicinctus Distant, Orosius lotophagorum (

The Derbidae fauna of the Seychelles is revised, providing redescriptions for the following species: Aquaelicium brunnescens Distant, 1917, A. elegantulum Distant, 1917, A. typicum Distant, 1917, Equirria phalaena Distant, 1917, Fordicidia robusta Distant, 1917, Paraphenice aurea (Distant, 1917), P. bimaculata (Distant, 1917), Proutista moesta (Westwood, 1851) and Sikaiana albomaculata (Distant, 1917). A new species, Vekunta bri sp. nov., increases the number of derbid taxa known from the Seychelles to 10 species in 7 genera. Lectotypes are designated for the following species: A. typicum, A. brunnescens, A. elegantulum, F. robusta and S. albomaculata. A key to derbid tribes and species of Seychelles is provided.

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.