• Clastopteris Stål, 1858.

  Type genus:

   Clastopteris Stål, 1858.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Stål, C. 1858. Neue systematische Eintheilung der Homopteren. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 19: 233-234 [234]

Introduction

The family Clastopteridae was created to accommodate a number of forms from North, Central and South America (Tribe Clastopterini Jacobi), with two species of Iba Schmidt, from the Philippines, comprising the monobasic tribe Ibaini Schmidt. These two tribes are now grouped together as the subfamily Clastopterinae with the transfer (by Hamilton 2001) of the family Machaerotidae to become the subfamily Machaerotinae. Members of these two subfamilies have the antennae set in deep circular pits or beneath prominent antennal ledges and the nymphs are inefficient producers of spittle. The Machaerotinae have nymphs which live in calcareous tubes which they fill with spittle. The nymphs of both groups share the feature of peculiar spirally annulated antennae.

ID Keys

https://idtools.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/index.html

General References

Hamilton, K.G.A. 2001. A new family of froghoppers from the American tropics (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Epipygidae). Biodiversity 2(3): 15-22 [18]

History of changes

• Machaerotida Stål, C. 1858. Neue systematische Eintheilung der Homopteren. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 19: 233-234 [233].

  Type genus:

   Machaerota Burmeister, 1835.

Introduction

The tube spittlebugs have nymphs that live inside calcareous tubes attached to their host plants. Hacker (1922) described the emergence of two species in Queensland and Evans (1940) provides details of the nymphal morphology.

Tubes of the Enderleiniini are straight, narrowly conical structures that extend along the smaller branchlets of the host tree. Those of the Hindoloidini are helical, snail-like structures that curl around the twigs. Evans (1940) hypothesises that the tube-forming habits of the Machaerotinae serve to prevent excessive loss of body moisture in organisms that have descended from subterranean ancestors.

Evans (1966) considered that the tube spittlebugs constitute a family in their own right. However, Hamilton (2001) moved them to become a subfamily of the primarily American family Clastopteridae. Cryan & Svenson (2010) present evidence from a molecular study that suggests that Evans' (1966) arrangement was correct but chose not to make any changes to the higher classification of the Cercopoidea.

Diagnosis

Body rather stout; dorsum more or less convex, never strongly flattened. Head usually short, never much broader than anterior end of pronotum; postclypeus swollen at upper portion; gena clearly divided into gena proper and pleurostome by a short longitudinal suture. Pronotum large, usually about 1/2 broader than long, more or less broader than head, very seldom as broad as head (when much broader than head, then lateral angle strongly ampliate but never broadly rounded); anterior pronotal margin between eyes usually strongly arcuate or subangulate, never straight; median carina often present. Scutellum as long as or longer than pronotum, either simply long and acuminate as in Clastopterinae, or strongly elevated and produced caudad into a free spine-like process simulating pronotal process of Membracidae. Tegmen 2–3.5 X as long as wide, distinctly divided into corium, clavus and membrane (here termed corial appendix) by claval furrow. and apical transverse fold; corium usually with simple, rather regularly arranged venation, very seldom reticulate in apical 1/2 or 2/3, but never reticulate only at extreme apex as in certain Cercopidae and never with a costal plica as in certain Clastopterinae; ambient vein always present; corial appendix membranous, veinless; clavus with 1 simple or apically branched longitudinal vein, or with 2 longitudinal veins which are adnate or joined by a short crossvein near middle, but never with 2 simple and independent longitudinal veins as in Cercopidae. Wing with simple, rather uniform venation, longitudinal vein 1 simple; 3 and 5 often apically branched. Hind tibia with or without 1 or 2 lateral spines. Abdomen short, tergites more or less strongly telescoped; abdominal apex distinctly upturned. Male genitalia: aedeagus always simple and bilaterally compressed; periandrium partially developed; paramere short, narrow, slender, slightly expanded apically; subgenital plate thin, flat, continuous with sternite 9; sclerites around anus much smaller than in Cercopidae; pygofer always with a granulose or spiny area at each side below base of anal segment (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2010) Identification Key and Checklists for the Froghoppers and Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea) of Australia and neighbouring areas. http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/index.html [accessed 19.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [6]

General References

Cryan, J.R. & Svenson, G.J. 2010. Family-level relationships of the spittlebugs and froghoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cercopoidea). Systematic Entomology 35: 393-415

Evans, J.W. 1940. Tube-building cercopids (Homoptera, Machaerotidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 64(1): 70-75

Evans, J.W. 1966. The leafhoppers and froghoppers of Australia and New Zealand. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 12: 1-347 [325]

Hacker, H. 1922. On the emergence of two tube-dwelling homopterous insects. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 7(4): 280-282

Hamilton, K.G.A. 2001. A new family of froghoppers from the American tropics (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Epipygidae). Biodiversity 2(3): 15-22 [18]

History of changes

• Enderleiniini Schmidt, E. 1907. Monographie der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal, ein beitrag aus Kenntnis der Cercopiden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 68: 165-200 [167].

  Type genus:

   Enderleinia Schmidt, 1907.

Introduction

This tribe includes the bulk of the meagre Australian machaerotine fauna. The Australian Enderleiniini are also the most frequently encountered of the subfamily being regularly attracted to light. Maa (1963) recognised 14 genera spread across the old world tropics, mainly inhabiting rainforests, with seven species in three genera found in Australia.

Diagnosis

Schildchen ohne Dornfortsatz, nach hinten verlängert, den Hinterleib überragend; Deckflügel breit; dritte Längsader der Flügel hinter der Mitte gegabelt (Schmidt 1907).

Body usually more elongate than in Hindoloidini, medium to large size, strongly to weakly humpbacked. Corial appendix of tegmen usually smooth. Hind tibia with 2, seldom 1 lateral spine. Abdomen moderately short, its apex often extending beyond level of scutellar apex. Nymphal tube usually subconic (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2001) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the subfamily Machaerotinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm [accessed 19.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [23]

Schmidt, E. 1907. Monographie der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal, ein beitrag aus Kenntnis der Cercopiden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 68: 165-200 [166]

History of changes

• Chaetophyes Schmidt, E. 1919. Neue Gattungen und Arten der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cercopiden (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 79: 366-373 [367].

  Type species:

   Chaetophyes bicolor Schmidt, 1918 by original designation.

Introduction

Chaetophyes compacta and C. vicina are common and widespread in eastern Australia and frequently collected in large numbers in light traps. Most individuals of all species are shiny greenish brown on the head and thorax with extensive dark brown areas on the tegmina, although males of C. compacta are usually entirely dark brown to black, occasionally with green heads and C. pulcherrima has some vague striping on the mesonotum. The anterior prominence of the head, which can be quite snout-like in profile, varies within species. The genus is restricted to Australia and New Guinea.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Coolgardie (COO), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Flinders (FLI), Kanmantoo (KAN), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Nandewar (NAN), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP), Wet Tropics (WT)

Diagnosis

Body of small to medium size, rather robust to fairly slender, distinctly broader than deep in profile. Head slightly narrower than pronotum. Ante- and postclypeus evenly convex in female' postclypeus usually weakly keeled in male. Pleurostome broader than lorum, separated from lorum by a long deep suture; maximum length of gena proper and minimum breadth of pleurostome subequal; maxillary plate slightly exposed. Eye shorter than broad, its inner margin weakly curved and distinctly angulate at lower end; outer margin not touching hind margin of head. Crown weakly depressed, irregularly rugose, rarely smooth; its anterior margin in male broadly rounded, in female subangulate or strongly produced at middle; tylus usually much narrower than eye and hardly broader than side piece of vertex. supra-antennal triangle well defined, well visible in vertical view of crown; ocelli much closer to each other than to eyes. Pronotum coarsely rugose, usually with some intermingling punctures; anterolateral margin carinated and weakly reflexed. Scutellum very low, flat or nearly flat. Tegmen short, broad, transparent, apically or entirely smooth, basally more or less punctate; basicostal area broad, distinctly depressed; disc of corium convex; apical and preapical cells distinctly concave; veins prominent, deeply pigmented; venation rather similar to that in typical Hindola, but R branched far beyond middle of costal margin, apical cells short but large, rm1 shorter, apical abscissae of Rs and M not stronged switched toward anal margin; corial appendix usually reaching 1/2 of apical corial margin, rarely vestigial. Hind tibia with 1-2 lateral spines, when 2, then the major one about 2/5 as long as breadth of tibial apex; inner and outer apical lobes of hind tarsomeres subequal in length. Female anal segment partly concealed, ovipositor sheath nearly vertical (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [55–56]

History of changes

• Aphrophora admittens Walker, F. 1858. List of specimens of Homopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Supplement. London : British Museum (Natural History) 369 pp. [345].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂ (ex Ent. Club #44.12), New Holland.

Generic Combinations

• Chaetophyes admittens (Walker, 1858). —
  Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [59]

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic: Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Victorian Midlands (VM)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Very similar to Ch. compacta Wk., length similar, but differing in following points: Body much slenderer; breadth and profile depth distinctly smaller; male tegmen with dark markings distinctly darker than body (in compacta male, tegmen as dark as or paler than body); female body and tegmen never black. Transverse carina (male) separating tylus from postclypeus stronger. Pronotum less convex. Tegminal surface rather even; apical and preapical cells weakly concave, in female with indistinct shallow wrinkles. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum male 9 : 27 : 26 and 35 : 37 : 15, female 11 : 32 : 34 and 43 : 45 : 19 respectively. Body length male 5.5 - 6.0 mm, female 6.7 - 8.2 mm.

ID Keys

Maa 1963: 56.

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [59]

History of changes

• Aphrophora compacta Walker, F. 1851. List of the Specimens of Homopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3 pp. 637-907. [701].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♀ (presented by R. Butler, Esq. Holotype by monotypy), Tasmania, as "Van Diemen's Land".
• Aphrophora bifrons Walker, F. 1851. List of the Specimens of Homopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3 pp. 637-907. [702].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♀ (presented by the Entomological Club), New Holland
  Comment: holotype by monotypy.
• Lepyronia australiae Walker, F. 1851. List of the Specimens of Homopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum (Natural History) Vol. 3 pp. 637-907. [727].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂ (presented by the Haslar Hospital), New Holland
  Comment: holotype by monotypy.
• Aphrophora semiflava Walker, F. 1858. List of specimens of Homopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Supplement. London : British Museum (Natural History) 369 pp. [187] [junior subjective synonym of Aphrophora compacta Walker, 1851].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 2 ♀, New Hebrides
  Comment: holotype by monotypy.
• Aphrophora areolata Walker, F. 1858. List of specimens of Homopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Supplement. London : British Museum (Natural History) 369 pp. [345].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH ♂, Tasmania
  Comment: Holotype by monotypy.
• Chaetophyes bicolor Schmidt, E. 1919. Neue Gattungen und Arten der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cercopiden (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 79: 366-373 [368].

  Type data:

   Holotype IZW ♀, Australia.

  Secondary source:

   Baker, C.F. 1927. Some Philippine and Malaysian Machaerotidae (Cercopoidea). Philippine Journal of Science 32: 529-547 [544] (notes on Chaetophyes bicolor Schmidt).
• Carystus mutabilis Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [13].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHRM ♂ ♀, quantity unknown, Australia borealis et occidentalis.
• Chaetophyes unicolor Schmidt, E. 1919. Neue Gattungen und Arten der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cercopiden (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 79: 366-373 [369].

  Type data:

   Holotype IZW ♂, Australia.
• Polychaetophyes perkinsi Hacker, H. 1926. New species of Queensland Cercopidae (Homoptera). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(3): 243-248 [246].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) QM Ho. 3032 2 ♀, Stanthorpe, Queensland.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Stål, C. 1862. Synonymiska och systematiska anteckningar öfver Hemiptera. Öfversigt af Kongelige Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar, Stockholm 19(9): 479-504 [493] (synonymy of A. semiflava)
• Baker, C.F. 1927. Some Philippine and Malaysian Machaerotidae (Cercopoidea). Philippine Journal of Science 32: 529-547 [544] (synonymy of C. unicolor and P. perkinsi)
• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [61] (synonymy of C. mutabilis and C. bicolor. Maa also lists A. bifrons, A. australiae, A. areolata, H. compacta, H. bifrons, H. mutabilis and C. unicolor as synonyms without giving the source of the synonymies)

Generic Combinations

• Chaetophyes compacta (Walker, 1851). —
  Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [61]

Introduction

This is a highly variable species distributed through most of the southeastern parts of Australia. The male is usually black while the female is pale brown in the body with extensive black markings in the forewings.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), Kanmantoo (KAN), NSW North Coast (NNC), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Victorian Midlands (VM), Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder (associated flora: Eucalyptus sp undet. [MYRTACEAE]).

Diagnosis

Body robust and compact, colour pattern of male much darker than in female. Head in female not distinctly produced forward. Postclypeus at each side with deep impressed transverse lines interspaced by haired rugae; medially often with a short weak keel. Side piece of vertex roughly rugose, in female slightly depressed. Tylus also slightly depressed, finely longitudinally striate; in male separated from postclypeus by a weak transverse carina; in female less than 1/2 as long as broad, anteriorly rounded off. Ocellar area long, about 2/3 as long as interocellar distance, in male often longitudinally raised. Occipital margin strongly reflexed; tentorial pit roundish, small, very shallow. Supra antennal triangle not longer than ocellar area. Pronotum with coarse, undulating and intersecting rugae, lacking distinct roundish punctures. Scutellum with straight, non-intersecting rugae. tegminal surface strongly uneven, apical and preapical cell distinctly concave and smooth in both sexes. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum male 9 : 27 : 25 and 36 : 38 : 16, female 13 : 35 : 31 and 44 : 50 : 22 respectively. Body length male 5.5-5.8 mm, female 7.1 - 8.2 mm. Male usually entirely shining black, with 1 or 2 pale spots at preapical cells of tegmen. Female body greenish yellow, tegmen varying from uniformly brownish to uniformly black, very often with some pale irregular markings, but no distinct pale fascia (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

Maa 1963: 56

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [61–62]

Misidentification

— as Polychaetophyes serpulidia Kirkaldy, 1906, Hacker, H. 1922. On the emergence of two tube-dwelling homopterous insects. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 7(4): 280–282 [281].

History of changes

• Chaetophyes pulcherrima Evans, J.W. 1970. A new species of Machaerotidae from Australia (Homoptera: Cercopoidea). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 81(8): 83-84 [83].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM T.6732 ♂ (Coll. T. Weir, 20.iv.1968), North Stradbroke Island, Queensland.

Introduction

This is the most colourful species of the genus in Australia with distinctive striping on the pronotum and green basally on the forewings which are otherwise hyaline with the veins marked out in dark brown. It is only known from SE Queensland.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Length male 4.8 mm, female 6 mm; width across eyes, male 1.6 mm, female 1.9.mm. General coloration green, female with orange and brown markings. Face of head, ante and post-clypeus, yellowish; post-clypeus with two transverse posterior brown muscle impressions, sometimes also with additional, more anteriorly placed, oblique ones; medially almost flat, laterally convex. Crown of even width with eyes, horizontal, slightly rugose, brown; frons sometimes darker than remainder. Pronotum slightly convex, punctate, transversely striated, shining; anteriorly a transverse orange stripe margined on both sides with white; remainder deep orange with three longitudinal whitish stripes; sometimes greenish laterally. Scutellum brown or green, or in part brown, in part green. Tegmen, crumpled, shining; female, clavus punctate, membrane adjoining clavus and costal margin, green; male, clavus in part brown, remainder of tegmen vitreous; veins with raised spots, in part brown; anal veins joined by one or two cross veins. Male genitalia illustrated (Evans 1970)

Diagnosis References

Evans, J.W. 1970. A new species of Machaerotidae from Australia (Homoptera: Cercopoidea). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 81(8): 83-84 [83]

History of changes

• Chaetophyes vicina Lallemand, V. 1927. Descriptions de Cercopides nouveaux provenent de la collection du British Muséum. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1927: 99-118 [99].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 2 ♀ (Maa (1963) refers to a holotype mounted as one of a pair of females mounted together on the same point but did not indicate which of the two was the primary type. Lallemand (1927) gave locality data but did not specify a holotype. These specimens are therefore syntypes unless some physical indication has been provided on the specimens themselves by Lallemand (to indicate a holotype) or by Maa (to indicate a lectotype)), Moree, New South Wales.

Introduction

This is a common species in inland areas of Australia. The males and females are similar in colouring but the male tends to have a longer "nose".

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, WA: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Coolgardie (COO), Desert Uplands (DEU), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Mulga Lands (ML), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Body greenish yellow; face lacking black markings. Tegmen in male almost uniformly blackish brown, preapical area slightly paler; in female brown, with 1 broad colorless fascia before middle and another less conspicuous one beyond middle; basal 2/5 of anal margin in both sexes broadly greenish yellow, not transparent. Body slender, color pattern in male slightly darker than in female. Head in female distinctly produced forward. Postclypeus smooth and shining, lacking distinct rugae at side and lacking keel. Crown rather smooth, finely striate; side piece of vertex in female distinctly depressed. Tylus sharply marked off from postclypeus, in male distinctly depressed, in female flattened, 1/2 as long as broad, anteriorly with a strong transverse carina. Ocellar area short, 2/5 as long as intercocellar distance. Supra-antennal triangle 2 x as long as ocellar area. P:ronotum less humpbacked than in compacta, coarsely rugose-reticulate, with distinct roundish punctures all over; rugae at posterior 1/2 not predominant over punctures. Surface of tegmen weakly uneven. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum male 7 : 21 : 22 and 30 : 31.5 : 14, female 10 : 26 : 29 and 36 : 39 : 17 respectively. Further characters similar to compacta. Body length male 4.5-5.0 mm, female 6.0-7.2 mm (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

Maa (1963: 56)

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [64]

History of changes

• Pectinariophyes Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [386].

  Type species:

   Pectinariophyes pectinaria Kirkaldy, 1906 by monotypy.
• Xenaias Distant, W.L. 1916. Rhynchota, Homoptera Appendix. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma 6: 1-248 [198].

  Type species:

   Xenaias notandus Distant, 1916 by original designation.
• Polytrichophyes Schmidt, E. 1919. Neue Gattungen und Arten der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cercopiden (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 79: 366-373 [366].

  Type species:

   Polychaetophyes aequalior Kirkaldy, 1906 by original designation.
• Neurohindola Lallemand, V. 1951. Cinquième note sur les Cercopides. Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 87: 82-89 [87].

  Type species:

   Carystus reticulatus Spangberg, 1877 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [43-44] (synonymy of Xenaias, Polytrichophyes and Neurohindola)

Introduction

Maa (1963) regarded this genus as being a weak assemblage of species with four main components, one of which, the reticulata species group is found in lowland areas of the Australian and Papuan subregions. The other groups are found in Sri Lanka / Philippines (submontane and lowland), the Malaysian subregion (submontane) and the South African subregion (submontane). There are three species in the reticulata group, two of which are Australian and the third, represented by a single female specimen from New Guinea, may be a component of the Australian P. stalii (Spångberg).

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Avon Wheatbelt (AW), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Coolgardie (COO), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Esperance Plains (ESP), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Jarrah Forest (JF), King (KIN), Mulga Lands (ML), New England Tablelands (NET), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Yalgoo (YAL)

Diagnosis

Closely allied to Polychaetophyes, but with the posterior margin of the head raised, pronotum much less declivous, also much longer in proportion to the head. Ocelli farther apart, frons more swollen (Kirkaldy 1906).

Body of medium to rather large size, rather slender. Postclypeus almost evenly convex in both sexes, seldom with a short weak keel or fovea near top. Crown almost plane or depressed, irregularly rugose; supra-antennal triangle more or less definable, usually well visible in vertical view of crown. Pronotum strongly punctate or with undulating and intersecting rugae, never transversely striate. Scutellum low, wealy convex at disc. Tegmen subhyaline (rarely heavily sclerotised), strongly punctate throughout; veins usually weak; venation rather variable in details, R often branched before middle, Rs and M apically gently curved, never suddenly bent analward; clavus usually with 2 longitudinal and 1 or more crossveins; corial appendix never noticeably larger than claval appendix and never more than 1/3 as long as apical corial margin; apical cells not or hardly depressed. Hind tibia with 2 lateral spines, the 1st one often much smaller than any apical tibial spine (Maa 1963).

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2001) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the subfamily Machaerotinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm [accessed 19.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [386]

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [43]

General References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [44]

History of changes

• Carystus reticulatus Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [12].

  Type data:

   Holotype NHRM ♀, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.

Generic Combinations

• Pectinariophyes reticulata (Spångberg, 1878). —
  Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [45]
• Hindola reticulata (Spångberg, 1878). —
  Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [387]
• Neurohindola reticulata (Spångberg, 1878). —
  Lallemand, V. 1951. Cinquième note sur les Cercopides. Bulletin et Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 87: 82-89 [88]

Introduction

This stocky, yellow-brown species has been recorded from widely separated localities across three states of Australia. It is commonly attracted to lights and a comprehensive review of material in collections is likely to find it from many other locations than the few recorded here.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NSW, Qld, WA: Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Jarrah Forest (JF), Mulga Lands (ML), Sydney Basin (SB)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Dilute olivaceo-flavescens, vertice, facie pedibusque in ferrugineum migrantibus, limbo costali tegminum ad basin in maribus cuneatim fusco-maculato, apice tarsorum spinisque fere totis pedum posticorum nigris, tegminibus pallide olivaceo-subhyalinis, alis dilute vitreo-subhyalinis, ♂: long. corp. 5.5 mill., long. corp. c. tegm. 8 mill., lat. 3 mill.; ♀: long. corp. 7 mill., long. corp. c. tegm. 11 mill., lat.4 mill. Caput, supra visum, obtuse rotundato-angulatum, inaequale, compluribus impressionibus instructum, medio quam ad oculos distincte longius, fronte sat convexa, subtilissime densissimeque punctata; pronotum dense punctato-rugulosum; scutellum leviter, transversim strigosum, multo longius quam latius; tegmina punctata, medio subdecoloria (Spångberg 1878).

Female: Postclypeus moderately convex, minutely punctate, medially broadly, very slightly flattened and with few fine indistinct longitudinal striae, laterally with about 8 broad shallow transverse impressed lines. Gena and lorum minutely punctate, with indistinct longitudinal striae; relative breadths of pleurostome and lorum and length of gena proper 7 : 3 : 5. Side piece of vertex coarsely, deeply, obliquely wrinkled; tentorial pit oblong, moderately deep; supra-antennal triangle about 2.5 x as broad as long, depressed; occipital margin slightly reflexed; tylus flattened or weakly depressed, shallowly, irregularly rugose, more than 2 x as broad as long; ocellar area with indistinct median carina; area immediately outside of ocellus depressed. Pronotum coarsely punctate-reticulate, with meshes at anterior 1/2 fairly deep, often darker than ground color and about as long as wide, becoming coarser, wider (approximately 2/3 as long as wide), shallower and same as ground color toward posterior pronotal margin; anterior marginal area narrowly, shallowly depressed; calli shallow. Scutellum coarsely, rather shallowly wrinkled throughout; apical 1/3 flattened. Tegmen coarsely punctate all over; apical and preapical cells practically plane; veins fairly prominent, ir, rm and mcu crossveins about 2-10, 4-9 and 3-6 in number respectively (not counting ambient vein); R branched before middle of costal margin; Rs subparallel to C nearly for entire length; clavus with 2 longitudinal and 1-2 crossveins, longitudinal vein 2, basally indistinct; corial appendix slightly shorter and narrower than claval appendix. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 15 : 37 : 44 and 53 : 54 : 25.5 respectively (measured from holotype). Body length 8-11 mm, tegmen 6.6-8 mm.
Male. Similar. Slightly darker; tegmen apically stained brown. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 12 : 35 : 35 and 45 : 44.5 : 20 respectively. Body length 8.1 mm, tegmen 6.8. (Maa 1963)

ID Keys

Maa (1963: 44)

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [45]

Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [12]

History of changes

• Carystus stalii Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [12].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHRM 12 ♂ ♀, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.
• Carystus sorurculus Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [12].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHRM ♂, quantity unknown, Australia borealis et occidentalis.
• Polychaetophyes aequalior Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [385].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BPBM sex, quantity unknown (coll.: xi.1904), Bundaberg, Queensland.
• Pectinariophyes pectinaria Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [386].

  Type data:

   Holotype BPBM sex unknown (immature) (xi.1904, bred, Koebele's No 2307), Bundaberg, Queensland.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [47] (synonymy of C. sorurculus, P. aequalior and P. pectinaria)

Generic Combinations

• Pectinariophyes stalii (Spångberg, 1878). —
  Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [47]

Introduction

This species has been recorded more widely than its congenor but this might simply mean it is more common rather than more widespread. An examination of specimens in collections will establish its distribution with greater accuracy. P. stalii is generally smaller than P. reticulata but otherwise is quite similar in appearance.

Distribution

States

Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA

ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Tas, Vic, WA: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gulf Plains (GUP), King (KIN), Mulga Lands (ML), New England Tablelands (NET), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Pallide subolivaceo-flavescens, subtus cum pedibus obscurior, interdum fusco-ferrugineus, limbo costali tegminum ad basin cuneatim fusco-maculato, dorso abdominis fere toto et mesostethio nigris, his valde nitidis, tegminibus late flavescente-limbatis, in disco decoloribus, subvitreis, hyalinis, alis vitreo-hyalinis. ♂: long. corp. 3,5 mill., long. corp. c. tegm. 6 mill., lat. 2 mill., ♀: long. corp. 5 mill., long. corp. c. tegm. 7 mill., lat. 2.75 mill. Haec species, praecedenti quoad structuram et formam simillima et valde affinis, magnitudine, venis tegminum, pronoto antice magis angulatim producto, fronte ad latera costis obliquis, transversis instructa facile differt (Spångberg 1878).

Female. Greenish yellow, rarely yellowish brown. Postclypeus brown, with about 10 transverse impressed brownish black lines at each side (incl. 2 on tylus), the upper ones narrower and paler. Pronotal punctures, especially those at anterior 1/2, slightly darker than ground color. Venter of mesothorax largely brown. Fore tibia and femur brown, tarsus and extreme apex of tibia black. Mid leg black, knee brown. Hind leg brown, darker toward apex, tibial and tarsal spines apically shining black. Postclypeus finely and rather densely punctate; rugae at intervals of impressed lines rather prominent and about as broad as latter; lower area with fine feeble transverse striae; discal area with few short fine longitudinal striae. Pleurostome and lorum densely, minutely punctate; relative breadths of pleurostome and lorum and length of gena proper 5.75 : 3.5 : 4. Crown coarsely, shallowly, irregularly wrinkled; tylus slightly flattened, distinctly more elevated than side piece of vertex; the latter weakly concave; tentorial pit large roundish, scarcely depressed; ocellar area depressed, anteriorly a little more elevated than tylus; occipital margin strongly reflexed throughout; supra-antennal triangle depressed, about 2/3 as long as broad. Pronotum strongly convex, coarsely and deeply reticulate-punctate, with meshes approximately as long as broad; calli shallow. Scutellum coarsely rugose, often with distinct punctures intermixed; apical 1/5 feebly foveate. Tegmen coarsely reticulate-punctate throughout; venation variable in details, R branched beyond middle of costal margin, very rarely at middle; R1 usually divergent from costal margin near apex; ir 2-4 in number, all far from base of preapical cell 1; rm1 short or replaced by adnation of Rs and M near middle; preapical cell 3 basally often with 1-2 supernumerary oblique stubs or crossveins; basicostal triangle weakly depressed; preapical and apical cells in teneral specimens distinctly concave, in fully matured ones almost plane; corial appendix as large as or slighly smaller than claval appendix. Relative lengths and breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 10 : 27.5 : 30 and 39 : 40 : 17 respectively. Tegmen 4.7-5.8 mm long.
Male. Duller than female, clavus and apical corial margin of tegmen tinted with yellowish brown to dark brown. Postclypeus with short weak keel near top. Scutellum more coarsely and deeply sculptured. Tegmen 3.4-4.3 mm long. (Maa 1963)

ID Keys

Maa (1963: 44)

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [48]

Spångberg, J. 1878. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita descripsit. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 34(9): 3-14 [12]

History of changes

• Polychaetophyes Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [384].

  Type species:

   Polychaetophyes serpulidia Kirkaldy, 1906 by subsequent designation, see Schmidt, E. 1912. Zue Kenntnis aussereuropäischer Cercopiden (Hemiptera-Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 72: 165-178 [173].

Introduction

Although originally described with two species, this genus is now recognised as being monotypic following the synonymy of P. aequalior Kirkaldy with Pectinophyes stalii (Spångberg) by Maa (1963). The remaining species, Polychaetophyes serpulidia Kirkaldy is distinctive in its humpbacked appearance and its pinkish brown colouring with transverse whitish bands on the tegmen and is widespread across northern Australia.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA: Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU) ; NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Plains (GUP), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Diagnosis

Vertex almost vertical, verv short, transverse. Ocelli much nearer to one another than to the eyes. Frons perpendicular (at apex) to the vertex, at base about one third of the width of the vertex, broadening out a little towards the middle tumid, somewhat lightly roundly impressed near the base (as seen ventrally, (the actual basal part is on the dorsal part of the head.) Antennal peduncle short and small, antennal ridges somewhat deep. Clypeus reaching to apex of anterior coxae. Rostrum reaching beyond base of middle coxae. Pronotum roundly declivous, transversely striate, wider than head and eyes, posterior margin deeply roundly excavated in the middle. Scutellum much longer than wide, posteriorly acuminately produced. Tegmina subhyaline, strongly punctured especially on clavus, with scattered granules on the veins, apical margin of clavus obliquely truncate (or, if the claval appendix be not counted, acute, not acuminate), membrane (and clavus apically) with an appendix. Wings with the anal vein forked near the base. Legs very short, especially the posterior femora ; posterior tibiae with one long, acuminate spine about the middle of outside edge and one tiny subbasal acute spine (Kirkaldy 1906).

Body of medium size, robust, strongly humpbacked, about 7/10 as deep in profile as broad. Head much narrower than pronotum. Anteclypeus not keeled; postclypeus flat, not foveate. Pleurostome broader than lorum, with short fine decumbent hairs; its lower end plane, with a long suture to separate it from lorum; maxillary plate hardly exposed. Eye about as long as wide; inner margin almost in contact with hind margin of head. Tylus distinctly narrower than eye, about as broad as side piece of vertex. Supra-antennal triangle poorly defined. Ocelli much closer to each other than to eyes. Pronotum coarsely rugose; anterolateral margin sharply carinate. Scutellum low, medially flattened, weakly elevated at sides, no preapical constriction; its apex weakly depressed. Tegmen hyaline, densely punctate at basal 2/5; cells at apical 1/2 all smooth and fairly concave; veins strong; venation normal; corial appendix reaching 3/5 of apical tegminal margin; clavus apically acute. Hind tibia with 2 lateral spines, the major one shorter than 1/2 of breadth of tibial apex; outer and inner apical lobes of hind tarsomeres as in Taihorina. Female anal segment almost entirely concealed; anal style as long as profile depth at base; ovipositor-sheath vertical. (Maa 1963)

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2001) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the subfamily Machaerotinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm [accessed 20.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [384–385]

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [36]

General References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [36]

History of changes

• Polychaetophyes serpulidia Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [385].

  Type data:

   Holotype BPBM HSPA #378 ♀ (xi.1904), Bundaberg, Queensland.

Introduction

This species is distinctive because of its hump-backed appearance, pinkish brown colouring with minute dark specks and transverse banding on the tegmen. It is distributed primarily across the tropical and subtropical parts of the country.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Sturt Plateau (STU), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Pale yellowish brown suffused with reddish. Pronotum yellowish with greenish and reddish tinges. Scutellum reddish, obscurely pallid in the middle and posteriorly. Anterior and interior legs more or less dark, posterior legs more or less pale. Tegmina subhyaline, colorless; basal third of corium and clavus and apex of clavus dark brownish (more or less ruddy), apical fourth yellowish brown. Granulations dark brown. Pronotum very lightly carinate longitudinally; much wider than head and eyes. Scutellum shallowly channelled along its anterior three fourths, posterior fourth carinate. Length: 6 3/4–8 mill. (Kirkaldy 1906).

Female. Postclypeus convex, with dense, moderately coarse punctures; lateral area strongly descending, with about 11 transverse impressed lines (including 5 on tylus). Gena and lorum densely, longly haired and moderately coarsely punctate; relative breadths of pleurostome and lorum and length of gena proper 4.5 : 3 : 3. Crown irregularly punctate-rugose; occipital margin strongly reflexed; tylus somewhat flattened; side piece of vertex nearly plane, anteriorly rounded off to antennal ledge; tentorial pit roundish, very shallow; ocellus distinctly closer to tylus than to occiput; ocellar area strongly raised at middle. Pronotum with intersecting, strong rugae, no distinct punctures; ante-callus area slightly depressed, finely rugose, and with a distinct submarginal furrow running parallel to anterior margin; lateral area irregularly punctate-rugose; posterior margin very broadly sinuate at middle. Scutellum moderately convex, wrinkled; discal depression large, longer than wide; apical 1/4 smooth, weakly concave, laterally weakly reflexed. Tegmen coarsely, very densly and deeply punctate at basal 2/5 and along costal margin, elsewhere very sparsely so; costal cells and longitudinal veins with scattered brown granules which are slightly wider than veins; basicostal depression rather shallow. Relative lengths of pronotum and scutellum 32 : 32; relative breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 38 : 50 : 22. Body length 6-8 mm.
Male. Similar. Tegmen paler. Relative lengths of pronotum and scutellum 30 : 30; relative breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 34 : 46 : 21. Body length 6.5 mm. (Maa 1963)

Diagnosis References

Kirkaldy, G.W. 1906. Leafhoppers and their natural enemies. Bulletin of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association Experimental Station Entomological Series 1(9): 271-479 [385]

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [36]

History of changes

• Hindoloidesini Baker, C.F. 1927. Some Philippine and Malaysian Machaerotidae (Cercopoidea). Philippine Journal of Science 32: 529-547 [533].

  Type genus:

   Hindoloides Distant, 1915.

Introduction

The members of this tribe are small hunchbacked insects with the apices of the tegmina overlapping. The nymphs live in calcareous tubes which spiral around the twig to form a snail-like coiled tube. The fauna is mainly African and Oriental with extensions into the eastern Palaearctic and Australasia. Australia has a single species in Queensland and NE New South Wales.

Diagnosis

Head never broader than anterior end of pronotum, supra-antennal triangle often clearly defined. Pronotum with 6 or 8 indistinct calli. Scutellum with no distinct lateral surfaces, never with free spine-like process. Mesonotal process broadly rounded, not produced caudad. Tegmen short, broad, opaque to transparent, often heavily punctate; apical margin nearly perpendicular to claval furrow; tegmina in repose apically bent across abdominal apex behind clavus, and there overlapping one another and forming a large oblique areole to cover abdominal apex; clavus apically broad and oblquely subtruncate, its marginal or ambient vein abruptly curved forward before meeting claval furrow; corial appendix never smaller than total area of apical cells. Hind tibia with 1-2 lateral spines (Maa 1963).

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [7-9]

History of changes

• Hindoloides Distant, W.L. 1915. A few undescribed Rhynchota. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 15: 503-507 [506].

  Type species:

   Hindoloides indicans Distant, 1915 by monotypy.
• Weigoldella Haupt, H. 1923. Die Homoptera der Tibetreise W. Stötzners. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1923: 295-306 [299].

  Type species:

   Weigoldella bipunctata Haupt, 1924 by monotypy.
• Soa Jacobi, 1928 [junior homonym; of Soa Enderlein 1904 (Psocoptera)].

  Type species:

   Polychaetophyes appendiculata Hacker, 1926 by original designation.
• Soamachaerota Metcalf, Z.P. 1952. New names in the Homoptera. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 42: 226-231 [228] [replacement name; for Soa Jacobi 1928].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Baker, C.F. 1927. Some Philippine and Malaysian Machaerotidae (Cercopoidea). Philippine Journal of Science 32: 529-547 [546] (Synonymy of Weigoldella)

Introduction

This genus is distributed across the Oriental region from India to China and Japan with a single species found in eastern coastal mainland Australia.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IBRA

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

Diagnosis

Crown long, when viewed vertically to its plane, median length 1.5-2.5 x side length. Pleurostome 1.5 x as broad as lorum. Eye rather small, slightly narrower than tylus, nearly as long as broad when viewed vertically to plane of crown. Tylus distinctly broader than its distance to eye. Interocellar distance 2/3 of ocello-ocular distance. Pronotum much broader than head; median carina usually wanting; anterolateral margin about 2.5-3.0 x as long as interocellar distance, about 2/5-1/2 as long as posterolateral margin, hardly reflexed; posterolateral margin less deeply sinuate than posterior margin. Scutellum slightly broader than interocular distance. Tegmen nearly hyaline or not transparent; veins very indistinct and rather intraspecifically variable; R often forked near apex; rm usually present; M1+2 and M3+4 usually long, M1+2 sometimes branched at apex, Cu1 rather strong, apart from claval furrow; almost always 3 apical cells; preapical cell 3, when present, triangular, large, enclosed by M-stem, M3+4 and Cu1; clavus apically very broadly rounded, 1A and 2A adnate at base; corial appendix subrectangular, 2/5-1/2 as long as broad; claval appendix trapezoid. Apical 1/2 or 1/3 of tegmina evenly convex or rather abruptly bent mesad, when closed, corial appendices, and sometimes also apices of coria proper, overlapping one another and about 45-60 degrees to horizontal plane. (Maa 1963)

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2001) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the subfamily Machaerotinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm [accessed 20.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [16]

History of changes

• Polychaetophyes appendiculata Hacker, H. 1926. New species of Queensland Cercopidae (Homoptera). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(3): 243-248 [247].

  Type data:

   Holotype QM Ho.3051 ♀ (coll.: H. Hacker, December), Bunya Mountains, Queensland, 3000 ft.
• Soa tmetoptera Jacobi, A. 1928. Results of Dr E. Mjöberg's Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-1913. Rhynchota, Homoptera. 1. Fulgoridae und Cercopidae. Arkiv för Zoologi 19A(28): 1-50 [47].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHRM ♀ ♂, quantity unknown (coll.: October), Mt Tambourine, Qld.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [13]

Generic Combinations

• Hindoloides appendiculata (Hacker, 1926). —
  Evans, J.W. 1966. The leafhoppers and froghoppers of Australia and New Zealand. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 12: 1-347 [330]
• Soamachaerota appendiculata (Hacker, 1926). —
  Metcalf, Z.P. 1960. General Catalogue of the Homoptera. Fascicle VII, Cercopoidea. Part 1, Machaerotidae. Raleigh N.C. : North Carolina State College 43 pp. [20–21]

Introduction

This small shiny brown insect is the only representative of the Hindoloidini in Australia. Its nymphs produce a distinctive snail-like tube around small twigs of eucalypt trees. The species is only known from coastal areas of SE Queensland and NE New South Wales.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

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

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

Male. Shining black; gena, lorum and tentorial pit brown. Tegmen variable in color, in paler specimens, nearly colorless with large, roundish, brownish black marking at disc and at claval apex, costal margin brownish black at extreme base and at middle 1/3, brown at basal 1/3 of clavus; in darker specimens, brown, paler at both ends of cell 1r, at apical 1/3 of 1m and at apical cells (apical cell 2 and antero-apical corner of clavus nearly colorless), brownish black along nearly full length of costal margin, and greyish yellow at corial appendix, forming an inconspicuous broad fascia crossing middle of corium. Tegminal veins brown or brownish black, more or less paler basally. Knees, tibiae (both ends) and tarsi of fore and mid legs brown, hind tibia also brown. Postclypeus evenly convex, minutely punctate. Tylus smooth, distinctly concave, with a median furrow; side piece of vertex shallowly depressed, obliquely wrinkled; tentorial pit roundish, very shallow; occipital margin slightly reflexed; ocellar area discally slightly depressed; supra-antennal triangle usually ill-defined, finely wrinkled. Pronotum coarsely wrinkled; calli rather shallow, transverse; lateral corner obliquely wrinkled. Scutellum coarsely punctate-rugose, sometimes with a weak short carina at middle 1/3; median area near base more or less depressed; extreme apex depressed, nearly smooth. Tegmen coarsely punctate at basal 1/2 of clavus, elsewhere smooth; cells at apical 1/4 of of corium distinctly concave; ambient vein much weaker than neighbouring ones; corial appendix with undulate longitudinal wrinkles; basicostal area deeply depressed; veins (except R+M and abscissae 1 of R and M) with small, scattered, setigerous punctures; cells 1r and 1m also with few such punctures. Lateral tubercle of metathorax weakly developed. Relative lengths of pronotum and scutellum 25 : 26; relative breadths of head, pronotum and scutellum 31 : 37 : 16. Tegmen 3.7-4.0 mm long.
Female. Similar. Reddish brown; postclypeus medially black, laterally with about 6 testaceous, hairy transverse lines. Tegmen yellowish hyaline, with a rather broad and conspicuous brown fascia across middle of corium; clavus largely brown, paler at anterobasal area; veins brown, also paler near base. Tibiae largely brown. Venter of thorax testaceous, abdomen brown to black. Side piece of vertex hardly concave; pronotal wrinkles weaker. Tegmen 5 mm long. (Maa 1963)

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [14]

History of changes

• Machaerotida Stål, C. 1858. Neue systematische Eintheilung der Homopteren. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 19: 233-234 [233].

  Type genus:

   Machaerota Burmeister, 1835.

Introduction

The Machaerotini are immediately recognisable by the posterior prolongation of the scutellum to form a needle-like spine. The world fauna is almost entirely Oriental with extensions north to Japan and SE to New Guinea and northern Australia. Maa (1963) recognised 6 genera containing 51 species with the Australian fauna comprising two species in the species-rich Oriental genus Machaerota Burmeister.

Diagnosis

Head somewhat broader than anterier end of pronotum. Supra-antennal triangle never clearly defined. Pronotum with 4 distinct calli. Posterior portion of scutellum more or less elevated, always sharply divided into dorsal (sulcus area) and lateral surfaces and with a free spine-like process. Mesonotal process, pointed, strongly produced caudad. Tegmen long, narrow, always transparent, almost always smooth, venation uniform, never strongly reticulate. Hind tibia with 1 or no lateral spine (Maa 1963).

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [7]

History of changes

• Machaerota Burmeister, H.C.C. 1835. Schnabelkerfe. Rhynchota. Handbuch der Entomologie 2(1): 1-396 [128].

  Type species:

   Machaerota ensifera Burmeister, 1835 by monotypy.
• Narnia Walker, F. 1870. Catalogue of the Homopterous insects collected in the Indian Archipelago by Mr A.R. Wallace, with descriptions of new species. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 10: 82-193 [192] [junior homonym; of Narnia Stål 1862 (Coreidae)].

  Type species:

   Narnia rastrata Walker, 1870 by monotypy.
• Pachymachaerota Schmidt, E. 1907. Monographie der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal, ein beitrag aus Kenntnis der Cercopiden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 68: 165-200 [194].

  Type species:

   Pachymachaerota nigrifrons Schmidt, 1907 by original designation.
• Conmachaerota Schmidt, E. 1919. Neue Gattungen und Arten der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cercopiden (Rhynchota Homoptera). Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 79: 366-373 [371].

  Type species:

   Conmachaerota notoceras Schmidt, 1919 by original designation.
• Promaxudea Lallemand, V. 1927. Descriptions de Cercopides nouveaux provenent de la collection du British Muséum. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1927: 99-118 [100].

  Type species:

   Promaxudea humboldti Lallemand, 1927 by original designation.
• Eumachaerota Schmidt, E. 1928. Die Zikaden des Buitenzorger Museums (Hemipt. Homopt.). Treubia Treubia 10: 107-144 [111].

  Type species:

   Eumachaerota siebersi Schmidt, 1928 by original designation.
• Asichaerota 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 [40].

  Type species:

   Asichaerota taiheisana Matsumura, 1940 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Distant, W.L. 1908. Rhynchota. — Vol. IV. Homoptera and Appendix. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma 4: 1-501 [80] (synonymy of Narnia Walker)
• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [96] (synonymy of Pachymachaerota?, Conmachaerota?, Promaxudea, Eumachaerota and Asichaerota)

Introduction

This genus contains more than 40 species spread across the Oriental region to the Australasian region with some outliers in Brazil and Japan. Australia has two species, one endemic and one shared with New Guinea. The genus is immediately recognised by the prolongation of the scutellum into a prominent spine-like process. The two Australian species are distinctively different in coloration.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

IBRA

NT, Qld: Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Wet Tropics (WT)

Diagnosis

Body slender. Postclypeus never vertically produced into head process. Upper portion of pleurostome as broad as or narrower than basal segment of antenna. Eye moderately swollen. Crown anteriorly broadly rounded, seldom subangularly produced forward; occipital margin usually weakly sinuate at middle; antennal ledge, in vertical view of crown, gently curved; ocelli more or less closer to eyes than to each other. Pronotum gently convex, more or less broader than long; lateral angle seldom produced into spreading horizontal lamina; posterior angle variable; anterolateral margin longer or about as long as postero-lateral margin. Scutellum often with distinct "neck" region in profile; scutellar process slender, as long as or longer than (seldom slightly shorter than) scutellum proper, originating from upper end of postero-inferior margin of the latter; scutellar sulcus usually narrow and shallow. Tegmen about 3 x as long as broad; discoidal cell 1.5-3.5 x as long as broad, never longer than tegminal breadth; claval vein branched or unbranched. Cu (longitudinal vein 5) of wing unbranched. Hind leg slender; tibia lacking lateral spine; inner apical lobes of tarsomeres much longer than outer ones. Apical lobe of male pygofer narrowly rounded. (Maa 1963)

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2001) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the subfamily Machaerotinae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid/machaero/mach00.htm [accessed 20.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [96]

History of changes

• Machaerota finitima Jacobi, A. 1928. Results of Dr E. Mjöberg's Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-1913. Rhynchota, Homoptera. 1. Fulgoridae und Cercopidae. Arkiv för Zoologi 19A(28): 1-50 [45].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NHRM ♀, Bellenden Ker, Queensland; NHRM ♀ (coll.: Dr Schlaginhaufen), Torricelligebirge, Irian Jaya, New Guinea.

Introduction

This species is shared between the wet tropics of North Queensland and the western part of New Guinea. It is probably more widespread in New Guinea but the species is not common in collections anywhere.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

The two species of Machaerota occurring in Australia are easily distinguished by colour. This species is primarily brown with white markings. M. pugionata is red and black. The scutellar spine on M. finitima is also much longer and more curved than that of M. pugionata.

History of changes

• Machaerota pugionata Stål, C. 1865. Homoptera nova vel minus cognita. Öfversigt af Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. Stockholm 22: 145-165 [154].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHRM ♀, quantity unknown (Maa (1963) noted that a male holotype and female paratype exists in Stockholm but Stål (1865) only indicated that female syntype(s) existed. Assuming Stål's sex determinations were correct, Maa's (1963) recognition of a holotype does not constitute a lectotype designation because a male syntype is not available. The specimens in Stockholm must therefore be considered to remain as syntypes), Australia borealis.
• Pachymachaerota signoreti Schmidt, E. 1907. Monographie der Subfamilie Machaerotinae Stal, ein beitrag aus Kenntnis der Cercopiden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 68: 165-200 [199] [replacement name; unnecessary nom. nov. for Machaerota gupionata Signoret, 1879].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Maa, T.C. 1963. A review of the Machaerotidae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Pacific Insects Monographs 5: 1-166 [107]

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Machaerota gupionata Stål, 1865 [subsequent misspelling]. —
  Signoret, V.A. 1879. Essai sur les Jassides Stål, Fieb. et plus particulièrement sur les Acocéphalides Paton. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 5 9: 47-92, 259-280 [49]

Introduction

This species is currently regarded as endemic but further collecting in New Guinea may reveal its presence there. It is currently known from a few tropical localities in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NT, Qld: Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

All stages: xylem feeder.

Diagnosis

The two species of Machaerota occurring in Australia are easily distinguished by colour. This species is primarily red and black while M. finitima is primarily brown. The scutellar spine on M. pugionata is short and straight while that of M. finitima is long and curved downwards.

History of changes