Genus Polonius Distant, 1916

Museums

Regional Maps

• Polonius Distant, W.L. 1916. Rhynchotal Notes. lxi. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8(18): 288-294 [291].

  Type species:

   Polonius biseratensis Distant, 1916 (Day (1999) gave the type species as P. biseriatus which is incorrect) by monotypy.

Introduction

This oriental genus probably doesn't occur in Australia. Evans (1966) regarded the only Australian representative as being incertae sedis and almost certainly not validly belonging to Polonius Distant.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IBRA

NSW, Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Diagnosis

This is the original description of Polonius by Distant (1916) based on the type species, P. biseratensis: General shape and form of the Australasian genus Sertorius [Stål], but with the posterior pronotal process not prominently thickened at its base, and only about reaching the posterior angle of the inner tegminal margin; apical areas to the tegmina longer and their veins more or less turned inwardly as in Pogon [Buckton] (Distant 1916).

This is the generic diagnosis given by Day (1999) based on P. froggatti which may not be congeneric with P. biseratensis: Clypeus long. Ocelli equidistant from each other and from eyes. Median pronotal process almost reaching apex of tegmen. Differs from Pogonella in characters of the clypeus, ocelli, the veins M and Cu, the shape of the tegmen, the subcostal cell and in the cucullate setae of the hind tibia (Day 1999).

Day (1999) also provided a comprehensive description of the genus (based on P. froggatti.

ID Keys

Fletcher, M.J. and Day M. F. (2005) Illustrated Key to the Genera of the Family Membracidae found in Australia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Membracidae) http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/leafhop/membracid/membrac00.htm [accessed: 10.iv.2012]

Diagnosis References

Day, M.F. 1999. The genera of Australian Membracidae (Hemiptera : Auchenorrhyncha). Invertebrate Taxonomy 13: 629-747 [700–701]

Distant, W.L. 1916. Rhynchotal Notes. lxi. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8(18): 288-294 [291]

History of changes