Systematics and phylogeny of the Neotropical treehopper subfamily Nicomiinae (Hemiptera, Membracidae)

Abstract

Morphological characters of adults of the treehopper subfamily Nicomiinae Haupt, 1929 (Hemiptera, Membracidae) including seven genera (Eudonica gen. nov.; Euwalkeria Goding, 1926; Holdgatiella Evans, 1962; Nicomia Stål, 1858; Nodonica Dietrich, McKamey& Deitz, 2001; Stalomia gen. nov.; and Tolania Stål, 1858) and 22 species (16 new) are described and illustrated. Keys are provided for genera and for species of Euwalkeria, Holdgatiella, and Nicomia. Nomenclatural changes, based on study of the primary type material of 15 species, include three new combinations, one new synonymy, and reinstatement of one junior synonym. Eudonica has one species, Eudonica nanella sp. nov.; Euwalkeria has five species, including four new species: E. colorata sp. nov., E. distincta sp. nov., E. perdita sp. nov., E. rubrica sp. nov.; Holdgatiella has two species, one of which is described as new: Holdgatiella chiloensis sp. nov.; Nicomia has twelve species, nine of which are described as new: N. buccina sp. nov., N. harenosa sp. nov., N. inscripta sp. nov., N. jucunda sp. nov., N. monticola sp. nov., N. nigrifasciata sp. nov., N. notidana sp. nov., N. pulchella sp. nov., N. serrata sp. nov.; Nodonica has one species, Nodonica bispinigera Dietrich, McKamey & Deitz; and Stalomia has one species, Stalomia veruta sp. nov. Tolania contains eleven previously described species and nearly 60 new species, which will be treated in a later publication. Three new combinations are proposed: one species described in Nicomia is placed in the tribe Abelini (Centrotinae) as Abelus retrospinosus (Lethierry) comb. nov.; one species previously placed in Nicomia is transferred to the genus Tolania as T. obliqua (Walker, 1858), comb. nov.; one species described in Holdgatiella is placed in the genus Tolania as T. stria (Cryan & Deitz, 2002), comb. nov. One new synonymy is proposed: Hoplophera [sic] cicadoides Walker, 1862, syn. nov., a junior synonym of Nicomia interrupta Stål, 1858. Nicomia subfasciata Stål, 1858, is reinstated. The results of a phylogenetic analysis based on morphology are presented, illustrating the hypothesized relationships among species and genera of Nicomiinae. The analysis supports the broader concept of Nicomiinae proposed here. The monophyly of this group is supported by eleven characters, and all of the included genera are also monophyletic.

Revision of the Neotropical treehopper genus Tolania (Hemiptera, Membracidae)

“…The study treats 69 valid species, 59 of which are described as new. The previous phylogenetic analysis ( ALBERTSON & DIETRICH 2005) recovered several clades within Tolania and many of these are here recognized as informal species groups. Based on examination of the available type specimens ten of the 15 previously described species are considered valid, one is a junior synonym, and four species are of uncertain position.…”

“…These genera were placed in the nominotypical tribe, Nicomiini (equals Tolaniini Haupt), and keys were provided for species of all genera except the largest, Tolania. Phylogenetic analysis consistently recovered Tolania as sister group to a clade comprising the remaining genera of Nicomiinae (ALBERTSON & DIETRICH 2005).…”

“…Morphological characters relevant for the subfamily Nicomiinae, including Tolania, were described and illustrated by ALBERTSON & DIETRICH (2005). The terminology used follows that of DEITZ (1975), DIETRICH & DEITZ (1993), and DIETRICH ET AL.…”

“…A previous morphology-based phylogenetic analysis (ALBERTSON & DIETRICH 2005) incorporated all but two species (T. curvata and T. histria) of the genus for which males were known, most of them undescribed. The undescribed species were referenced by letters (e.g., Tolania A, B, C, etc.…”

“…The classification of Nicomiinae was recently revised based on phylogenetic analysis of adult morphological characters (ALBERTSON & DIETRICH 2005). In that work, the definition of Nicomiinae was expanded to include seven monophyletic genera (Eudonica Albertson, Euwalkeria Goding, Holdgatiella Evans, Nicomia Stål, Nodonica Dietrich, McKamey & Deitz, Stalomia Albertson, and Tolania Stål).…”