Immature Stages and Hosts of Two Plesiomorphic, Antillean Genera of Membracidae (Hemiptera) and a new species of Antillotolania from Puerto Rico

Abstract

The nymphs of Antillotolania Ramos and Deiroderes Ramos are described for the first time, along with the first host record for the genus Antillotolania, represented by Antillotolania myricae, sp. n. Nymphal features of both genera, such as a ventrally fused, cylindrical tergum IX (anal tube), the presence of abdominal lamellae, and heads with foliaceous ventrolateral lobes confirm their placement in Membracidae and are consistent with phylogenetic analyses placing them in Stegaspidinae but in conflict with a cladistic analysis showing a closer relationship to Nicomiinae. Head processes and emarginate forewing pads in the last instars of both genera support an earlier estimate, based on nuclear genes, that the two genera form a monophyletic group in Stegaspidinae. Distinguishing features of the four species of Antillotolania are tabulated.

Immatures of the New World treehopper tribe Amastrini (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae) with a key to genera

“…Lencioni-Neto and Sakakibara (2013) described the immature of Alcmeone Stål (Darninae). The immatures of the unusual Antillean endemic genera Antillotolania Ramos and Deiroderes Ramos have also been described (McKamey and Brodbeck 2013). Regardless, formal descriptions or even illustrations of New World taxa are restricted to very few genera, and keys are nonexistant with the exception of Quisenberry et al (1978) and Pratt and Wood (1992), severely hindering identification.…”

The immatures of the New World treehopper tribes Acutalini Fowler and Micrutalini Haupt (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae)

“…Besides the uniqueness of morphology of membracid nymphs, they also differ from nymphs of all other Auchenorrhyncha families in having the last visible abdominal segment (IX) fused ventrally, forming a tube containing the anal segments, which can be everted by the nymphs at will ( McKamey and Brodbeck 2013 ). Behaviorally, membracid nymphs differ from those of most Auchenorrhyncha in being unable to jump (SHM pers.…”

“…The present paper is part of the larger effort to describe the immature stages of New World treehopper genera, which has so far covered the Caribbean genera Antillotolania Ramos, Deiroderes Ramos ( McKamey and Brodbeck 2013 ), and tribe Quadrinareini ( McKamey and Wallner 2022 ). The nymphs of the continental tribes Amastrini ( McKamey et al 2015 ) and Thuridini ( McKamey and Porter 2016 ), and the membracine genus Eunusa Fonseca ( McKamey 1992 ) have also been described.…”

The immatures of the New World treehopper tribes Acutalini Fowler and Micrutalini Haupt (Hemiptera, Membracidae, Smiliinae)

“…Besides the uniqueness of morphology of membracid nymphs, they also differ from nymphs of all other Auchenorrhyncha families in having the last visible abdominal segment (IX) fused ventrally, forming a tube containing the anal segments, which can be everted by the nymphs at will (McKamey and Brodbeck 2013). Behaviorally, though, membracid nymphs differ from those of most Auchenorrhyncha in being unable to jump (SHM, pers.…”

“…The present paper is part of the larger effort to describe the immature stages of New World treehopper genera, which has so far covered the Caribbean genera Antillotolania Ramos, Deiroderes Ramos (McKamey and Brodbeck 2013), and tribe Quadrinareini (McKamey and Wallner 2022). The nymphs of the continental tribes Amastrini (McKamey et al 2015) and Thuridini (McKamey and Porter 2016), and the membracine genus Eunusa Fonseca (McKamey 1992) have also been described.…”