Genus Amarusa Walker, 1857

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External Links

• Amarusa Walker, F. 1857. Catalogue of the Homopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo, by Mr. A.R. Wallace, with descriptions of new species. Journal and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology 1: 141-175 [166].

  Type species:

   Amarusa picea Walker, 1857 by monotypy.
• Eoptyelus Jacobi, A. 1921. Kritische Bermerkungen über die Cercopidae. (Rhynchota Homoptera). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 87: 1-65 [8].

  Type species:

   Eoptyelus sordidus Jacobi, 1921 by original designation.
• Okiptyelus Matsumura, S. 1940. New species and genera of Cercopidae in Japan, Korea and Formosa, with a list of the known species. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University 45: 35-82 [42].

  Type species:

   Okiptyelus yayeyamanus Matsumura, 1940 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Hamilton, K.G.A. 1980. Aphrophorinae of the Solomon Islands (Rhynchota, Homoptera, Cercopidae). Pacific Insects 22: 361-379 [366] (synonymy of Eoptyelus)
• Liang, A.-P. 1998. Oriental and eastern Palaearctic aphrophorid fauna (Homoptera: Aphrophoridae): taxonomic changes and nomenclatural notes. Oriental Insects 32: 239-357 [240] (synonymy of Okiptyelus)

Introduction

Amarusa is distributed in Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. The sole representative of this genus in Australia is the largest Australian spittlebug Amarusa australis (Jacobi). This species is relatively uncommon in collections, although it sometimes occurs in very large numbers causing significant "rainfall" from trees.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, Qld: NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Distribution References

Diagnosis

Head slightly narrower than pronotum, crown shorter than half length of pronotum in midline. Tegmina slender, distinctly hairy, veins inconspicuous, M and Cu fused basally, preapical cells 3, of similar width. Legs short, robust. Aedeagus shaft tubular, straight, apically clubbed and pendulous. Apices of parameres chelate.

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2003) Illustrated Key to the genera of the subfamily Aphrophorinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/aphrophor/aphro00.htm [accessed 18.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Hamilton, K.G.A. 1980. Aphrophorinae of the Solomon Islands (Rhynchota, Homoptera, Cercopidae). Pacific Insects 22: 361-379 [366]

Liang, A.-P. & Fletcher, M.J. 2003. A review of the Australian aphrophorid spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae). Australian Journal of Entomology 42(1): 84-93 [85]

History of changes