A new species of planthopper in the genus Paraphenice (Hemiptera: Derbidae: Otiocerinae) from palms in eastern Madagascar.

A survey of planthoppers associated with palms in Madagascar was initiated to assess putative vectors of a phytoplasma causing palm decline. Here a derbid collected from a Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) is described as Paraphenice fluctus sp. n., with supplemental molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, 18S rRNA gene, and D9D10 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene.

Avaratra gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae) from northern Madagascar endemism centre.

A new monospecific genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Avaratra gen. nov., is described for Avaratra spinifemora sp. nov. (type species) from the island of Madagascar. Habitus, male and female external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated. Avaratra spinifemora gen. et sp. nov. is endemic to Madagascar and probably represent a species specialized to dry costal forest, the vegetation widely distributed in Madagascar, gradually extending with the climate change. Taking into account a few data and poor collecting in these areas, particularly for planthoppers, it is possible that the species occurs in other similar places along the west northern coast.

Two new species and a new combination in the genus Ricanula Melichar, 1898 for Ricaniidae from China (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha).

Two new species of the genus Ricanula Melichar, 1898 within the family Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from China are described and illustrated: R. curva sp. nov. and R. peronata sp. nov. Ricania cacaonis Chou et Lu, 1977 is redescribed and transferred to genus Ricanula. Ricanula pulverosa (Stl, 1865) is re-illustrated.

Bitara gen. nov. of Tropiduchidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) east of Wallace line.

A new genus and species of the tropiduchid planthopper of the tribe Tropiduchini is described as Bitara augusta gen. et sp. nov. from Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. It is the 18th species of Tropiduchini and the 9th genus known east of the Wallace line. It is another taxon with characteristic asymmetric genitalia within this tribe.