Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355862
Research Project: Systematics of Hemiptera and Related Groups: Plant Pests, Predators and Disease Vectors

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Hebetica sylviae, n. sp. (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Darninae) discovered in Kentucky wasp nests, with redefinitions of Hebetica Stål and Stictopelta Stål, and a key to species of Hebetica

Author
item McKamey, Stuart - Stu
item SULLIVAN-BECKERS, LAURA - University Of Kentucky

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2019
Publication Date: 8/12/2019
Citation: Mckamey, S.H., Sullivan-Beckers, L. 2019. Hebetica sylviae, n. sp. (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Darninae) discovered in Kentucky wasp nests, with redefinitions of Hebetica Stål and Stictopelta Stål, and a key to species of Hebetica. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 121(3):449-460. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.121.2.178.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.121.2.178

Interpretive Summary: Leafhoppers and treehoppers cause millions of dollars of damage t crops every year. In order to communicate about pests, each species must have a single name, but some have no name at all and therefore require a formal description. In this paper, a new species is described from ground wasp burrows in Kentucky, initially discovered by a two-year old girl who over-watered a flower bed. The new species probably feeds on pin oak. This will be useful for researches on wasps, on treehoppers, state extension agents and oak horticulturalists.

Technical Abstract: The new species Hebetica sylviae from Kentucky is described and illustrated. All individuals were recovered from nests of the wasp Hoplosoides costalis (Sphecidae), and perhaps originating on oak. The other four Hebetica species occur only in South America. The definitions of Hebetica and Stictopelta are adjusted in light of newly discovered variation in the forewings. The condition of forewing vein R1 was more consistent than other diagnostic venation features used in the past. A key to species of Hebetica is provided.