Genus Goniagnathus Fieber, 1866

Museums

Regional Maps

• Goniagnathus Fieber, F.X. 1866. Neue Gattungen und Arten in Homopteren (Cicadina Bur.). Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 16: 497-516 [506].

  Type species:

   Jassus brevis Herrich-Schäffer, 1835 by monotypy.

Introduction

The genus Goniagnathus Fieber is widespread in arid and semi-arid grasslands of the Old World. Fletcher and Zahniser (2008) recorded the genus from Australia for the first time, with five species, four of which were new. The Australian species are all short and dumpy in outline, often brachypterous, with the head short, broad and roundly continuous with the face. Diagnostic features include the fore tibial spination with rows of 3 and 4 spines on the anterior (outer) face and the complete fusion of the subgenital plates. The parameres are divided into two sections, a heavily sclerotised and sculptured anterior section and a basal section which forms a strut between the base of the aedeagus (to which the reduced connective is fused) and the pygofer (Fletcher & Zahniser 2008).

Distribution

States

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

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), MacDonnell Ranges (MAC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Naracoorte Coastal Plain (NCP), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Riverina (RIV), Sydney Basin (SB), Victorian Midlands (VM)

Diagnosis

Short, squat leafhoppers, frequently dark brown or black. Anteclypeus narrower at base than at apex with lateral margins convex. Vertex slightly longer medially than against eyes, rounded into frons; occipital suture visible on basal third to half of vertex. Pronotum distinctly transversely striate on posterior half. Foretibia formula (anterodoral row + posterodorsal row) 3+4. Tegmina macropterous or brachypterous, venation minutely tuberculate, appendix in macropterous forms extending around wing apex. Pygofer posteriorly rounded with a few discrete macrosetae, occasionally with short process or extension. Subgenital plates fused throughout their length. Parameres with membranous central portion between short, rugose, broad, apically excavate section and wide basal section articulating medially with base of connective and laterally with pygofer. Connective fused to base of aedeagus. Aedeagus curved dorsally, broad or narrow, often with preapical lateral serrations or processes (Fletcher & Zahniser 2008).

Diagnosis References

Fletcher, M.J. & Zahniser, J.N. 2008. The first record of Goniagnathini from Australia with description of four new species of Goniagnathus Fieber (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae). Zootaxa 1692: 43-54 [44–45]

General References

Fletcher, M.J. & Zahniser, J.N. 2008. The first record of Goniagnathini from Australia with description of four new species of Goniagnathus Fieber (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae). Zootaxa 1692: 43-54 [44]

History of changes