Review of the maluku islands species of the lanternfly genus birdantis stål, 1863, with a new species and identification key (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae)

Abstract

A new species of the genus Birdantis Stål, 1863 (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), B. bhaskarai sp. nov. from Larat Island (Tanimbar), is described. Birdantis collaris (Walker, 1870) stat. rev. and B. trilineata (Schmidt, 1926) stat. rev. are reinstated as valid species, respectively from status of subspecies and as junior synonym of B. delibuta Stål, 1863. These four species, as well as the other one previously described from the Maluku Islands, B. decens Stål, 1863, are illustrated from their type specimens. An identification key, a distribution map, illustrations of habitus and details of male genitalia are provided. The synonymy between Myrilla Distant, 1888 and Birdantis is formally reinstated and all species formerly placed in the subgenus Birdantis (Myrilla) are transferred to Birdantis sensu stricto. Birdantis is transferred to the subfamily Aphaeninae Blanchard, 1847 and now contains eighteen species distributed in Maluku (five species), New Guinea and neighbouring islands (ten species) and Australia (three species).