Genus Platybrachys Stål, 1859

Museums

Regional Maps

• Platybrachys Stål, C. 1859. Hemiptera. Species novas descripsit. Kongliga Svenska fregatten Eugenies Resa omkring jorden under befäl af C.A. Virgin åren 1851-1853 (Zoologi) 4: 219-298 [280].

  Type species:

   Aphana lanifera Stål, 1854 by monotypy.
• Lyncilia Stål, C. 1863. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Fulgoriden. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 24: 230-251 [248].

  Type species:

   Lyncilia nobilis Stål, 1863 by monotypy.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Fennah, R.G. 1964. Three new genera of Eurybrachyidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) from West Africa and Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London (B) 33(9-10): 157-162 [160] (synonymy of Lyncilia)

Introduction

This genus contains 15 described species but Constant (2008, 2018) considers it to be a heterogeneous group which requires a complete revision. The planthoppers in the Platybrachys genus group include some of the most familiar eurybrachids in Australia and are commonly found running up, down or sideways around the trunks of eucalypt trees. The nymphs can also be found in this situation. Hacker (1924) described the life history of P. leucostigma, including information on egglaying, the anal appendages of the nymphs and natural enemies of the species. He also provided black and white photographs of P. leucostigma, P. maculipennis and P. decemmacula. There is evident sexual dimorphism exhibited by these species. Two species of the complex are recorded from outside of Australia although one of these records must be considered doubtful. P. barbata (Fabricius) was listed by Gmelin (1789) from India which is a highly unlikely locality for a genus which is otherwise so restricted. P. leucostigma was described, as P. aerata by Distant (1892), from Qld and Samoa. All other species of the Platybrachys complex are only known from Australia.

Distribution

States

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

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA: Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL) ; NSW, NT, Qld, WA: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Kimberley (CK), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pine Creek (PCK), Sydney Basin (SB), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Wet Tropics (WT) ; NT: Finke (FIN)

Diagnosis

The features used by Fletcher (2000, see ID Keys below) to distinguish Platybrachys from other Australian eurybrachid genera are: lower margin of eye without knob-like process; Frons of more or less uniform texture and colour throughout, without a transverse furrow; antennae with second segment globular or barrel-shaped, no more than twice as long as broad, not or only slightly surpassing eyes and lateral angle of frons; tegmina parallel-sided or widened apically, first fork of vein Cu not closer to base of tegmen than to apex of clavus, distal to first fork of vein M which is near base of tegmen, more or less level with first fork of vein R; lateral marginal angle of frons closer to frontoclypeal suture than to apex of head; first hind tarsomere without a ventral pad of bristles.

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. (2000). Illustrated Key to the Genera of the family Eurybrachidae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/fulgor/eurybrachidae/eurygen00.htm

General References

Constant, J. 2008. Revision of the Eurybrachidae (XIII). The new Australian genus Chewobrachys (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha). Zootaxa 1898: 41-54 [41]

Constant, J. 2018. Revision of the Eurybrachidae XIV. The Australian genera Olonia Stål, 1862 and Stalobrachys gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha). European Journal of Taxonomy 486: 1–97 [90]

Hacker, H. 1924. Field notes on Platybrachys &c (Homoptera). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 8(1): 37-42

History of changes