Balclutha jafara (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): integrative identification of a species introduced in the Western Hemisphere, and notes on other Balclutha.

Leafhopper specimens of the genus Balclutha Kirkaldy, found in southern Florida (Palm Beach and Collier Counties), United States, beginning in 2020, and in shipments of plant products originating from Colombia and entering the United States beginning in 2019, are identified as B. jafara Webb. This species was previously known only from the Seychelles and Aldabra Islands, which are parts of the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean east of mainland Africa. Identifications were made by comparison with type specimens, both morphologically and through molecular analysis. Specimens in Palm Beach Co. were swept from commercial rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddies. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcodes of specimens from Florida and Colombia were closely matched to each other and to partial barcodes obtained from paratype specimens of B. jafara. The COI barcodes also closely matched sequences from previously unidentified Balclutha specimens in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) from Kenya and South Africa, several of which were confirmed later morphologically as B. jafara. Previously unidentified museum specimens from South Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe were determined as B. jafara. Together, these specimens show that B. jafara has a more widespread African distribution than was known previously, and that it arrived in the Western Hemisphere by 2019. Balclutha jafara is redescribed and illustrated. Further studies on the Balclutha fauna of Florida were performed. COI barcode data were generated for Floridian specimens of B. caldwelli Blocker, B. curvata Caldwell, B. flavescens (Baker), B. frontalis (Ferrari), B. incisa (Matsumura), and B. lucida (Butler). A phylogenetic analysis of COI data was conducted using publicly available sequences and those generated here. A key to the Balclutha species known from Florida is provided. The names that have been applied and mis-applied to Western Hemisphere species are discussed. To clarify the identity of some species, illustrations are given for: the female holotype and a male paratype of Eugnathodus virescens Osborn (=B. flavescens); the holotype of Nesosteles robustus Caldwell (=B. robusta); and the holotype of Balclutha curvata Caldwell. Additional barcoded specimens of Balclutha from Kenya and Pakistan were provided for examination by the BOLD research group and determined as B. sujawalensis Ahmed, previously known only from India and Pakistan, and this species is also illustrated here.

Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton, 1967 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), a newly introduced species and genus in Europe with comments on its identification.

For the first time in the Palaearctic Region, the New World leafhopper genus Draeculacephala Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) has been recorded in France (Pyrenes-Orientales) and Spain (Catalonia). The species present in both countries is Draeculacephala robinsoni Hamilton 1967, among the most common and widespread species of the genus Draeculacephala in eastern North America. Comments on the identification of this species are presented. The species already seems to be firmly established in the region since it has been found in 11 different sites with a maximum distance of 86 km between them. Since the genus has been reported to be a vector of plant pathogens including Xylella fastidiosa its further spread in Europe should be closely monitored.

Review of the genus Papagona Ball, 1935 (Hemiptera: Caliscelidae) including a new Neotropical species.

Papagona Ball, 1935 was originally described based on two species from the USA (Arizona). Both species of Papagona (P. papoosa Ball, 1935, type species of genus, and P. succinea Ball, 1935) are redescribed herein based on type specimens, including their previously unknown internal male genitalia. A new species from Brazil (Roraima) is described herein including the male and female terminalia. A taxonomic key to all included species is provided and additional diagnostic characters for this genus are proposed.

Revision of the New World leafhopper tribe Faltalini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) and the evolution of brachyptery.

The taxonomy of the deltocephaline leafhopper tribe Faltalini (13 genera, 63 species) is revised. A key to all genera and keys to species for each genus are provided. All genera are described and at least one species of each genus is illustrated including images of the habitus, male and female genitalia, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the head, face, and other characters. The new genera Dietrichana n.gen. [type species D. pampas n. sp.] and Paraclorindaia n.gen. [type species P. pinguis n. sp.] are described and the following 36 new species are described: Ackbaria jujuyensis n. sp. [Argentina], A. ojosverdes n. sp. [Argentina], Aequcephalus laplata n. sp. [Chile], Bonamus jussaral n. sp. [Brazil], Clorindaia obrienorum n. sp. [Uruguay], C. otamendi n. sp. [Argentina], Dietrichana pampas n. sp. [Argentina], Faltala catalanoae n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], F. paradellae n. sp. [Argentina], F. viscacha n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], Hecullus mexicanus n. sp. [Mexico], Kramerana saltensis n. sp. [Argentina], Paraclorindaia pinguis n. sp. [Argentina, Uruguay], P. vesperis n. sp. [Argentina], Tenucephalus admirabilis n. sp. [Argentina], T. bartletti n. sp. [Peru], T. brevilamina n. sp. [Argentina], T. cerrado n. sp. [Brazil], T. ecuadorensis n. sp. [Ecuador], T. flagellifer n. sp. [Peru], T. heppneri n. sp. [Peru], T. iguazu n. sp. [Argentina], T. interstinctus n. sp. [Peru], T. johnsoni n. sp. [Brazil], T. lingulatus n. sp. [Bolivia, Peru], T. manuensis n. sp. [Peru], T. misiones n. sp. [Argentina], T. musettiae n. sp. [Brazil], T. nielsoni n. sp. [Brazil], T. novafriburgo n. sp. [Brazil], T. parana n. sp. [Argentina], T. spectabilis n. sp. [Peru], T. takiyae n. sp. [Brazil, Peru], T. umbrinus n. sp. [Brazil], T. viperinus n. sp. [Argentina], and Virganana danasensis n. sp. [Ecuador]. The new combinations Paraclorindaia brasileira (Zahniser) n.comb. [transferred from Clorindaia] and Tenucephalus amabilis (Linnavuori Heller) n.comb. [transferred from Bonamus] are recognized. A phylogenetic analysis based on 51 morphological characters scored for 42 taxa including two outgroup taxa was performed. The resulting phylogeny resolved Faltalini as monophyletic, but the tribe remains difficult to diagnose because it encompasses a large amount of morphological diversity in characters traditionally used to define tribes of Deltocephalinae including head morphology, wing length and venation, and male genitalia. Despite this diversity, members of the tribe share the following characters: 1) phragma of male genital capsule partly developed into sclerotized plates or setose bulbous lobes (exception: Acrolithus); 2) first valvula shape relatively straight; 3) first valvula dorsal sculpturing separated from dorsal margin by unsculptured band; 4) first valvula dorsal sculpturing pattern maculose, with maculae separate or only slightly overlapping, or granulose; 5) first valvula with distinctly delimited ventral sculptured area; and 6) second valvula without dorsal teeth. Two major clades within the tribe were resolved and strongly supported, consisting of (Bonamus, Tenucephalus) and (Hecalocorica, (Hecullus, (Acrolithus, (Ackbaria, (Aequcephalus, Dietrichana, Virganana, Clorindaia, Faltala (Kramerana, Paraclorindaia)))))). A stepwise evolution of brachyptery in the latter clade is suggested by the phylogeny, beginning with evolution of subbrachypterous females in Hecullus and Acrolithus and culminating in completely brachypterous males and females in the monophyletic "Faltala group" of eight genera. It is hypothesized that a transition from an ancestral forested habitat to an open or grassland habitat facilitated the evolution of brachyptery. The hindwings and associated thoracic structures of eight species of Faltalini and three other Deltocephalinae were imaged with SEM. Brachyptery in Cicadellidae and other insects are briefly reviewed and discussed considering the hypothesis proposed here.

The Chinese Hecalina (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Hecalini) with descriptions of a new genus and seven new species.

The Chinese Hecalina (Deltocephalinae: Hecalini), which consists of five genera, is reviewed. Coloration and shape of the head and body, venation of forewing, and genitalia structures are the main morpological characters utilized to distinguish taxa. Fangamanus gen. n. is proposed for Parabolocratus tripunctatus Matsumura (type species of the new genus) and two other species. A key to the five genera of the Chinese Hecalina (Fangamanus gen. n., Hecalus Stål, Hecalusina He et al., Linnavuoriella Evans, and Thomsonia Signoret) is given, and seven new species from China are described: Hecalus changjiaotus, H. feithailandus, H. nadanus, H. triundosus, H. yuanmouensis, Thomsonia breviaea, and T. daliensis. In addition, four new combinations are proposed: Thomsonia nitobei (Matsumura), Fangamanus rufofascianus (Li), F. tripunctatus (Matsumura) (n. rec.), and F. morrisoni (Kwon and Lee). Only seven previously described species from China remain in Hecalus Stål: H. bifurcatus Cai Wang, H. furcatus Morrison, H. henanus Cai Shen, H. katoi Metcalf, H. prasinus (Matsumura), H. thailandensis Morrison, and H. wallengreni (Stål) plus two species (H. paykulli Stål and H. lefroyi Distant) previously recorded but unconfirmed here from China. Four species are redescribed: Fangamanus rufofascianus, F. tripunctatus, Thomsonia porrecta, and the first description and illustration of the male of T. nitobei (Matsumura) are provided.

Review of the leafhopper genus Makilingia Baker (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Mileewinae).

The taxonomy of the leafhopper genus Makilingia Baker is reviewed based on comparative morphological study of types and other specimens. Twenty-six species are recognized as valid including ten new species described and illustrated herein: M. davaoensis n. sp. M. lobata n. sp., M. maculamima n. sp., M. nigramima n. sp., M. paranigra n. sp., M. siamensis n. sp., M. tenebrifrons n. sp., M. uncinata n. sp., M. viraktamathi n. sp., and M. xanthopicta n. sp. Makilingia siamensis n. sp. represents the first known occurrence of the genus outside the Philippine Archipelago and the first record for Thailand. Makilingia simillima Baker, n. stat., formerly treated as a variety of M. variabilis Baker, is elevated to full species status based on distinctive differences in the male genitalia. Lectotypes are designated for several species described by Baker. The male genitalia of these species are described and illustrated for the first time and a key to all known species is provided.

A new species and a new form of leafhopper from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae).

A new species Erasmoneura tricuspidata sp.n. and a new morphological variant of Erythridula stolata McAtee are described from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

A new genus and species of Vartini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Africa.

A new genus and species of the leafhopper tribe Vartini are described.  Afrovarta angelae gen. & sp. nov. are described based on specimens from Ghana, Cameroon, and Gabon.