Genus Kyphocotis Kirkaldy, 1906

Museums

Regional Maps

• Kyphocotis Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [370].

  Type species:

   Kyphocotis tessellata Kirkaldy, 1906 by monotypy.

 

Introduction

An endemic genus of four medium-sized stenocotines, primarily restricted to tropical parts of Australia. Evans (1966) suggested that the four species might represent different forms of a single highly variable species but chose to retain them as separate and provided a key for their separation. Examination of the male genitalia and DNA sequences may reveal whether all four are valid.

 

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Diagnosis

Closely allied to Stenocotis but the posterior three-fifths of the scutellum are elevated in a narrow, acute crest, which in profile is more or less rounded (Kirkaldy 1906).

♀. The head ventrally is flat anteriorly and the maxillary plates extend alongside but not beyond the clypeus. The antennal ledges are distinct and terminate at the frontal sutures. The hind margin of the frons, which is barely perceptible, lies well forward of the apex of the head and the vertex has a slight median longitudinal ridge. The crown of the head is of even width throughout and the eyes are prominent. The pronotum is raised posteriorly and the posterior half is transversely striated, the postero-lateral angles are raised into one or two short rounded ridges. The scutellum which is transversely striated, is flat, or raised posteriorly into a hump of variable elevation. The tegmina which are rounded apically and have the veins raised in relief, are an opaque brown or grey. The hind tibiae have three rows of small spines and a row of five flattened spurs. ♂ seven tenths the length of the ♀. The tegmina are largely transparent and narrow apically (Evans 1937).

 

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2003) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the Tribe Stenocotini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Tartessinae) http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/leafhop/tartessinae/sten00.htm [accessed 22.xi.2011]

 

Diagnosis References

Evans, J.W. 1937. Australian Leafhoppers (Jassoidea: Homoptera). Part 7. — Stenocotidae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 11(2): 157-164 [161]

Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [370]

 

General References

Evans, J.W. 1966. The leafhoppers and froghoppers of Australia and New Zealand. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 12: 1-347 [107]

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
20-Sep-2011		20-Sep-2011	MOVED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)