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

Author
item McKamey, Stuart - Stu
item BRODBECK, B. - North Florida Research & Education Center

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2013
Publication Date: 5/17/2013
Citation: Mckamey, S.H., Brodbeck, B.V. 2013. Immature Stages and Hosts of Two Plesiomorphic, Antillean Genera of Membracidae (Hemiptera) and a new species of Antillotolania from Puerto Rico. ZooKeys. 301:1-12.

Interpretive Summary: Treehoppers sometimes cause serious injury to crops, such as soybean, avocado, and citrus, through oviposition and feeding. Understanding the relationships among them is necessary to predict which species are potential pests. The present paper describes for the first time the immature stages of two unusual species (one new) from Puerto Rico that may provide clues to the origin of a diverse assemblage prevalent in the United States. The information will be of use to those studying treehopper evolution and APHIS port identifiers.

Technical 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 A. myricae, n. sp. 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.