New and little known Fulgoroidea from South Africa (Homoptera)

Abstract

Descriptions and figures are given of the following eight new genera and twenty-five new species: Cixiidae-Caffrocixius n.gen., type personatus n.sp.; Achilidae-Brachypyrrhyllis n.gen., type fuscoc/ypeata n.sp.; Dictyopharidae-Risius limonias, gibbus, belona, porrectus, patroclus, palamedes, astyanax, omega n.spp., Strongylodemas retarius n.sp., Capenopsis socrates n.sp., Codon adrastus n.sp., Menenches atropos n.sp.; Tropiduchidae-Caffrommatissus n.gen., type trimaculatus n.sp.; lssidae-Caliscelis nero n.sp., Asarcopus phaedo n.sp., Griphissus n.gen., type xenocles n.sp., Gamergus phintias, croesus n.spp.; Nogodinidae-Telmosias n.gen., type crito n.sp., plato n.sp., Telmessodes n.gen., type proconsul n.sp., Stilpnochlaena n.gen., type xeno n.sp., Afronias n.gen., type tetrablemma n.sp. A new tribe, Mithymnini, is erected for Xosias Kirkaldy, Mithymna Stål, Colmadona Kirkaldy and Monteira Melichar, which are transferred from Issidae to Nogodinidae. Gengis Fennah, 1949, Gengidae, is made a synonym of Acrometopum Stål, 1853, formerly assigned to Issidae. The genera Camerunilla Haglund, Eucameruna Melichar, Durium Stål, Heinsenia Melichar, Obedas Jacobi, Gergithomorphus Haglund and Spathocranus Muir, are transferred from Issidae to Tropiduchidae, and Mahanorona Distant is transferred from Issidae to Dictyopharidae. Hysteropterum curviceps Synave is transferred to Telmosias n.gen. Supplementary descriptions are given of Afrachilus mirabilis Fennah (Achilidae), Risius spurcus Stål and Strongylodemas circulare Stål (Dictyopharidae), and Microeurybrachys vitrifrons Muir (Gengidae). New records are given for species of Delphacidae, Achilidae, Dictyopharidae, Tropiduchidae and lssidae. Many of the species in the various families show strongly convergent features involving the nature ofthe integument and tegmina, body shape, brachypterism or apterism, and coloration. A high proportion of such species is associated with the distinctive macchia vegetation of the Cape fold mountains and the Eastern Highlands of South Africa; a few species have become adapted along with elements of the macchia to arid karoo conditions. The convergent features apparently can be attributed to the environmental conditions in which the macchia has evolved and which it offers to its inhabitants.