The Genus Thionia Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Issidae) in Colombia: Highlighting the Value of Entomological Collections

Abstract

Entomological collections represent a key source of information about the biological heritage of a country. However, the taxonomy and knowledge of many arthropods from megadiverse countries are underrepresented in these natural history collections as is the case with several planthoppers of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. Issidae are fulgoromorphs distributed worldwide, except the poles and Greenland. Despite this ubiquity, Colombian planthoppers remain very poorly known and studied. Our objective was to provide the first consolidated records and distributional data for Colombian Issidae. We used reports of the representative genus Thionia deposited in biological collections in Colombia. In addition, we linked voucher specimen information and Olson’s life zones showing an inter-Andean valley and Eastern Andean Cordillera distribution within Colombia. Our survey of Colombian biological collections revealed 55 individuals of the genus Thionia Stål, 1859 (53 adults, 2 immatures [nymphs]), which were collected by different methods; however, many of those records may be opportunistic. This genus (and its species) needs further study, with systematic and ecological revision, as is the case with other terrestrial Colombian hemipterans. Our consolidated records represent an advance to the knowledge of Issidae (and Thionia specifically) for the Neotropics and Colombia in particular, and a baseline for further study of distributional and biogeographic patterns of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha.