Insect keys » Fulgoroidea

Family Derbidae - Derbid planthoppers

Kuranda notata Distant

The Family Derbidae has been very poorly studied in Australia despite the fact that it is well represented, particularly in the tropical North. Derbids are often delightfully delicate insects and the Australian fauna includes species of Swezeyia and Zoraida that are good examples of this. Two species have been recorded from New Zealand but only one of these, Eocenchrea maorica, has been confirmed [update: 12.ii.2001].

The Indonesian and New Guinean derbid fauna is very rich, as can be expected for a family associated with wet tropical forests. The tribe Rhotanini has been revised by Zelazny & Webb (2011) who recognised 294 species in eight genera, with 178 species described as new. The Australian Rhotanini includes just 12 species in five genera. [update: 24.xi.2011]

The short apical segment of the rostrum is diagnostic for the family. Some derbid species have the outer claval vein lightly but distinctly granulated (see image here) and may therefore be mistaken for Meenoplidae which have heavy granulations on this claval vein but they can always be distinguished as derbids by the apical segment of the rostrum.

The classification used here follows Emeljanov (1994 with English translation published in 1996).

Species of Derbidae known to occur in Australia

Subfamily Otiocerinae

Tribe ZORAIDINI
Genus Lydda Westwood Derbe (Lydda Westwood 1840: 84) Lydda Westwood, Westwood 1841: 478, new status Diospolis Westwood 1841a: 9, unnecessary nom. nov. for. Lydda Westwood, synonymised by Walker 1851: 400 Philadelpheia Kirkaldy 1906: 432, synonymised by Muir 1918: 174 Arfaka Distant 1907: 397, synonymised by Van Stalle 1992: 188 Afakia Kirkaldy 1909: 391, invalid emendation of Arfaka Distant 1907, synonymised by Van Stalle 1992: 188 Note: Van Stalle (1992) transferred all Australian species previously placed in the genus Proutista Kirkaldy to the genus Lydda Westwood.
Lydda australis (Distant) Phenice australis Distant 1907: 397 Proutista australis (Distant), Kirkaldy 1907: 174 Lydda australis (Distant), Van Stalle 1992: 205	Qld, India, Sri Lanka
Lydda cornuta Van Stalle Lydda cornuta Van Stalle 1992: 209 [update: added 23.viii.2013]	NT
Lydda elongata (Fabricius) Cicada elongata Fabricius 1781: 324 Derbe (Lydda) elongata (Fabricius), Westwood 1840: 84 Lydda elongata (Fabricius), Westwood 1841: 478 Diospolis elongata (Fabricius), Muir 1918: 174 Philadelpheia pandani Kirkaldy 1906: 432, synonymised by Muir 1918: 174 Known host: Pandanus (Pandanaceae) (Kirkaldy 1906) Notes: The original material of this species was collected on the voyage of the Endeavour along the eastern coastline of Australia in 1770. In the original description of the species the locality was simply given as "New Holland" and this (or variations) remained the only record listed by a number of authors between 1781 and 1832 (see Metcalf 1945). The first record of the species from New South Wales was by Schaum (1850) and Walker (1851) but, at that time, "New South Wales" could have meant any part of the east coast of mainland Australia. It wasn't until Kirkaldy (1906) that a more specific locality was provided and this was Cairns in N. Qld. It is quite possible that this species has never been found in NSW as it is defined today, with the original material coming from the Endeavour River near Cooktown in N, Qld. [update: 20.i.2011]	Qld, NT, NSW? (see notes), New Guinea
Lydda fusca Van Stalle Lydda fusca Van Stalle 1992: 210 Known host: Pandanus (Pandanaceae) [update: added 23.viii.2013]	NT
Lydda guttata Van Stalle Lydda guttata Van Stalle 1992: 203 Known host: Pandanus (Pandanaceae) [update: added 23.viii.2013]	NT
Lydda koebelei (Muir) Proutista koebelei Muir 1913a: 74 Lydda koebelei (Muir), Van Stalle 1992: 207 [update: 23.viii.2013]	Qld
Lydda lumholtzi (Kirkaldy) Sardis maculosa (Krüger) sensu Kirkaldy 1906: 433 Phenice maculosa (Kirkaldy), Distant 1907b: 195 Proutista lumholtzi Kirkaldy 1907a: 126, nom nov for Phenice maculosa Kirkaldy, preoccupied by Phenice maculosa Krüger Lydda lumholtzi (Kirkaldy), Van Stalle 1992: 204 Note: Kirkaldy's (1906) recognition of Phenice maculosa Krüger was wrong and his designation of this name as the type species for his new genus Sardis created a homonym of Krüger's species. At the same time, Distant's (1906c) recognition of the genus Phenice was also wrong when he synonymised Proutista Kirkaldy and, in 1907, Sardis Kirkaldy with it (Distant 1907b). Kirkaldy (1907a) resurrected Proutista and synonymised Sardis and Distant's version of Phenice with it. In the same paper he created a new name to replace the homonym he had created in 1906. The record of this species from Java was of Krüger's species. Muir (1913) recorded P. lumhotzi from the island of Ambon in Indonesia. Known hosts: Saccharum officinale (Poaceae), Pandanus (Pandanaceae) (Kirkaldy 1906) [update: 23.viii.2013]	NT, Qld, Indonesia (Ambon, W. Papua), PNG
Lydda perkinsi (Muir) Proutista perkinsi Muir 1913a: 75 Lydda perkinsi (Muir), Van Stalle 1992: 194 [update: 23.viii.2013]	Qld
Lydda perlucida Van Stalle Lydda perlucida Van Stalle 1992: 194 [update: added 23.viii.2013]	NT, Qld
Lydda pseudodecisa (Muir) Proutista pseudodecisa Muir 1918: 177 Lydda pseudodecisa (Muir), Van Stalle 1992: 203 [update: 23.viii.2013]	NT, Qld
Genus Zoraida Kirkaldy Derbe (Thracia Westwood 1840: 84), preoccupied by Thracia Leach 1823 (Mollusca) Thracia Westwood, Westwood 1841a: 10, new status Zoraida Kirkaldy 1900: 242, nom. nov. for Thracia Westwood 1840. Note: Metcalf (1945) notes that Thracia Westwood is preoccupied by Thracia Blainville, 1825, but Blainville's name is also preoccupied, by Thracia Leach, 1823.
Zoraida consanguinea Distant Zoraida consanguinea Distant 1907: 402	Qld
Zoraida cycnoptera Distant Zoraida cycnoptera Distant 1907: 401	Qld
Zoraida essingtonii (Westwood) Derbe (Thracia) essingtonii Westwood 1851: 210 Zoraida essingtonii (Westwood), Distant 1907: 402	NT
Zoraida eupoecila Distant Zoraida eupoecila Distant 1907: 402	Qld
Zoraida picta Distant Zoraida picta Distant 1907: 403	Qld
Zoraida sexnotata (Walker) Thracia sexnotata Walker 1870: 139 Zoraida sexnotata (Walker), Muir 1918: 176 Zoraida cydista Distant 1907: 402, synonymised by Muir 1918: 176	Qld, Indonesia (Aru Is.)
Tribe SIKAIANINI
Genus Sikaiana Distant Sikaiana Distant 1907 : 398 Iguvium Distant 1917: 287, synonymised by Muir 1918: 176
Sikaiana hyalinata Distant Sikaiana hyalinata Distant 1907: 399	Qld
Sikaiana maculosa Distant Sikaiana maculosa Distant 1907: 399	Qld
Tribe RHOTANINI
Genus Alara Distant Alara Distant 1911a: 643 Mecynorhynchus Muir 1913a: 82, synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 216 Note: This genus was synonymised with Levu Kirkaldy by Muir (1918a: 243) but resurrected by Zelazny & Webb (2011: 16). [update: added 23.xi.2011]
Alara australiensis Zelazny Alara australiensis Zelazny, in Zelazny & Webb 2011 : 18 [update: added 23.xi.2011]	Qld
Genus Dichotropis Muir Dichotropis Muir 1913a: 83 [update: added 23.xi.2011]
Dichotropis amboinensis Muir Dichotropis amboinesis Muir 1913a : 84 Decora vettius Fennah 1970: 65, synonymised by Zelazny & Webb 2011 : 32 [update: added 23.xi.2011]	NT, PNG, New Ireland, Solomon Islands, Indonesia (Ambon, W. Papua),
Genus Levu Kirkaldy Levu Kirkaldy 1906 : 434
Levu vitiensis Kirkaldy Levu vitiensis Kirkaldy 1906: 434	NSW, Qld, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia [Qld & other Pacific localities other than Fiji update: 23.xi.2011]
Genus Rhotana Walker Rhotana Walker 1857 : 160
Rhotana gressittorum Zelazny Rhotana gressittorum Zelazny, in Zelazny & Webb 2011 : 90 [update: added 24.xi.2011]	Qld, NSW
Rhotana haematoneura Kirkaldy Rhotana haematoneura Kirkaldy 1906: 435 Note: Muir (1927: 21) moved this species into Decora Bierman 1910: 19, but Zelazny (1981: 264) synonymised Decora with Rhotana Walker 1857: 1960. The species was redescribed by Zelazny & Webb (2011: 99–100)	Qld
Rhotana mendax Zelazny Rhotana mendax Zelazny, in Zelazny & Webb 2011 : 101 [update: added 24.xi.2011]	Qld
Rhotana quadrimaculata Distant Rhotana quadrimaculata Distant 1907: 411 Note: Muir 1918a: 231 moved this species into Decora Bierman 1910: 19, but Zelazny (1981: 264) synonymised Decora with Rhotana Walker 1857: 1960. The species was redescribed by Zelazny & Webb (2011: 96)	Qld
Rhotana ramentosa Distant Rhotana ramentosa Distant 1907: 409 Note: Muir 1918a: 231 moved this species into Decora Bierman 1910: 19, but Zelazny (1981: 264) synonymised Decora with Rhotana Walker 1857: 1960. The species was redescribed by Zelazny & Webb (2011: 96)	Qld
Rhotana septemmaculata Distant Rhotana septemmaculata Distant 1907: 410 Note: Muir 1918a: 231 moved this species into Decora Bierman 1910: 19, but Zelazny (1981: 264) synonymised Decora with Rhotana Walker 1857: 1960. The species was redescribed by Zelazny & Webb (2011: 93)	Qld
Genus Saccharodite Kirkaldy Saccharodite Kirkaldy 1907a: 127 Muiralyricen Metcalf 1946a: 114, synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 234. Malpa Metcalf 1954a: 11, synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 234. Saccharodite (Genestiella Fennah 1969: 70), synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 234. [update: 24.xi.2011]
Saccharodite basipunctulata (Melichar) Rhotana basipunctulata Melichar 1914a: 438 Malpa appressa Metcalf 1954a: 11, synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 240 Saccharodite (Genestiella) trocmus Fennah 1970: 66, synonymised by Zelazny 1981: 240 Saccharodite basipunctulata (Melichar), Zelazny 1981: 240 [update: added 24.xi.2011]	Qld, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, Philippines, Indonesia, Micronesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
*Saccharodite chrysonoe* (Kirkaldy) Rhotana chrysonoe Kirkaldy 1906: 435 Rhotana opalina Distant 1907: 410, synonymised by Zelazny & Webb 2011: 164 Rhotana transversa Distant 1907: 410, synonymised by Zelazny & Webb 2011: 164 Levu opalinum (Distant), Muir 1918a: 231 Saccharodite opalina (Kirkaldy), Fennah 1969: 69 Saccharodite transversa (Distant), Fennah 1969: 69 Saccharodite chrysonoe (Kirkaldy), Fennah 1969: 69 Note: Metcalf (1945: 80) moved this species into Decora Bierman 1910: 19, but Zelazny (1981: 264) synonymised Decora with Rhotana Walker 1857: 1960 although he made no mention of this species. Fennah (1969: 69) treated the species in Saccharodite as did Zelazny & Webb (2011: 164). [update: 24.xi.2011]	Qld, NSW, Tas, Vic [Tas update 21.vii.2000; Vic update 18.xii.2009]
Saccharodite doddi Zelazny Saccharodite doddi Zelazny, in Zelazny & Webb 2011 : 167 [update: added 24.xi.2011]	Qld
Tribe OTIOCERINI
Genus Deribia Westwood Deribia Westwood 1841a : 13
Deribia coccinea (Guérin-Méneville) Anotia coccinea Guérin-Méneville 1829: 58 Deribia coccinea (Guérin-Méneville), Westwood 1841a: 13 Note: M.-C. Larivière has raised doubts about the validity of the New Zealand record of this species.	Australia PNG, NZ
Genus Heronax Kirkaldy Heronax Kirkaldy 1906 : 431 Fenuahala Distant 1907: 411, synonymised by Kirkaldy 1907: 176
Heronax dubia Muir Heronax dubia Muir 1924: 31	Qld
Heronax infuscata (Distant) Fenuahala infuscata Distant 1907: 412 Heronax infuscata (Distant), Muir 1913a: 59	Qld
Heronax juno (Distant) Fenuahala juno Distant 1907: 413 Heronax juno (Distant), Kirkaldy 1907: 176	Qld
Heronax pallescens (Distant) Fenuahala pallescens Distant 1907: 413 Heronax pallescens (Distant), Kirkaldy 1907: 176	Qld
Heronax parnassia Kirkaldy Heronax parnassia Kirkaldy 1906: 431	Qld
Heronax rubrinervis (Distant) Fenuahala rubrinervis Distant 1907: 413 Heronax rubrinervis (Distant), Kirkaldy 1907: 176	Qld
Heronax saccharivora Kirkaldy Heronax saccharivora Kirkaldy 1906: 432 Known Host: Saccharum officinale (Poaceae) (Kirkaldy 1906)	Qld
Genus Kaha Kirkaldy Kaha Kirkaldy 1906 : 431 Devadanda Distant 1906c: 315, synonymised by Muir 1917a: 68
Kaha perfecta Kirkaldy Kaha perfecta Kirkaldy 1906: 434	Qld
Genus Kuranda Distant Kuranda Distant 1907 : 407
Kuranda notata Distant Kuranda notata Distant 1907: 407 [update: image added 23.xii.2013]	Qld
Genus Makula Distant Makula Distant 1907 : 408
Makula ornata Distant Makula ornata Distant 1907: 408	Qld
Genus Swezeyia Kirkaldy Swezeyia Kirkaldy 1906 : 430 Phantasmatocera Kirkaldy 1906 : 430, synonymised by Muir 1927: 20 Arunta Distant 1907: 406, preoccupied by Arunta Distant 1904 (Cicadidae), synonymised with Phantasmatocera by Kirkaldy 1907: 177 Nesophantasma Kirkaldy 1907: 177, synonymised with Phantasmatocera by Muir 1913a: 46
Swezeyia arborea (Kirkaldy) Phantasmatocera arborea Kirkaldy 1906: 431 Arunta rubrovenosa Distant 1907: 406, synonymised by Kirkaldy 1907: 177 Swezeyia arborea (Kirkaldy), Muir 1927: 20	Qld
Swezeyia pseudopalidocornis (Muir) Phantasmatocera pseudopalidocornis Muir 1913a: 49 Swezeyia pseudopalidocornis (Muir), Muir 1927: 20 Swezeyia pseudopallidocornis (Muir), Metcalf 1945: 154, incorrect subsequent spelling. Note: Muir (1913a) described two species of Phantasmatocera, one from Larat Island in Indonesia and one from North Queensland. The Larat species was P. pallidocornis (with a double "l") and the Queensland species was P. pseudopalidocornis (ie, with a single "l"). In the description of the second, he compared it with the first using the spelling "palidocornis" so it could be interpreted that the single "l" was a clear typographical error, although he used the single "l" twice so it could equally be argued that the double "l" in P. pallidocornis was the unintentional spelling. In 1924, Muir referred to the species again, and again used P. pseudopalidocornis. Metcalf's catalogue (Metcalf 1945: 154) amended the spelling to P. pseudopallidocornis without comment but this is clearly an incorrect subsequent spelling since Muir used the original spelling three times in two separate publications. [update: 17.i.2011]	Qld
Swezeyia pulchella (Muir) Phantasmatocera pulchella Muir 1924: 29 Swezeyia pulchella (Muir), Muir 1927: 20	Qld
Swezeyia sp. Note: The specimen photographed is in ASCU from Melaleuca quinquenervia at Townsville, Nth. Queensland and appears to be S. lyricen Kirkaldy, not previously recorded from Australia
Genus Vivaha Distant Vivaha Distant 1906c : 307
Vivaha saniosa Distant Vivaha saniosa Distant 1907: 405	Qld
Tribe KAMENDAKINI
Genus Kamendaka Distant Kamendaka Distant 1906c : 310
Kamendaka (Kamendaka) australis Muir Kamendaka australis Muir 1913a: 55	Qld
Kamendaka (Eosaccharissa Kirkaldy) Eosaccharissa Kirkaldy 1907a : 126 Chaprina Distant 1911a: 644, synonymised by Muir 1924: 30 Tapoosa Distant 1911a: 646, synonymised by Muir 1924: 30 Kamendaka (Eosaccharissa Kirkaldy), Muir 1924: 30, new status
Kamendaka (Eosaccharissa) longmani Muir Kamendaka (Eosaccharissa) longmani Muir 1924: 30	Qld

Subfamily Derbinae

Tribe CENCHREINI
Genus Basileocephalus Kirkaldy Basileocephalus Kirkaldy 1906 : 429 Urabunna Distant 1907: 414, synonymised by Kirkaldy 1907: 166
Basileocephalus thaumatonotus Kirkaldy Basileocephalus thaumatonotus Kirkaldy 1906: 429 Urabunna lineata Distant 1907: 414, synonymised by Kirkaldy 1907: 166 Note: This species has been collected from tree ferns. [update: image added 10.xii.2013]	Qld
Genus Lamenia Stål Lamenia Stål 1859 : 277 Thyrocephalus Kirkaldy 1906: 429, synonymised by Muir 1913b: 112
Lamenia leucoptera (Kirkaldy) Thyrocephalus leucopterus Kirkaldy 1906: 430 Lamenia leucoptera (Kirkaldy), Metcalf 1945: 125 [update: image added 10.xii.2013]	Qld

Subfamily Cedusinae

Tribe BREDDINIOLINI
Genus Hemielissum Emeljanov & Fletcher Hemielissum Emeljanov & Fletcher 2004: 38
Hemielissum evansi Emeljanov & Fletcher Hemielissum evansi Emeljanov & Fletcher 2004: 39 [updated: image added 17.v.2006]	NT
Tribe CEDUSINI
Genus Cedusa Fowler Lamenia Uhler 1884: 233, misidentification of Lamenia Stål 1859, synonymised by McAtee 1924: 175 Cedusa Fowler 1904: 112 Herpis Muir 1918a: 232, misidentification of Herpis Stål 1862, synonymised by Metcalf 1923: 148
Cedusa jacobii Metcalf Gonyphlepsia angustifrons Jacobi 1928: 40, preoccupied by Lamenia angustifrons Melichar 1905. Cedusa angustifrons (Jacobi), Muir 1934: 565 Cedusa jacobii Metcalf 1945: 131, nom. nov. for G. angustifrons Jacobi	Qld
Cedusa kulia (Kirkaldy) Lamenia kulia Kirkaldy 1906: 403 Cedusa kulia (Kirkaldy), Muir 1913a: 36	Qld
Cedusa spinosa Metcalf Gonyphlepsia venosa Jacobi 1928: 40 Cedusa venosa (Jacobi), Muir 1934: 565 Cedusa spinosa Metcalf 1945: 134, nom nov for G. venosa Jacobi, preoccupied by Cedusa venosa Fowler	WA
Genus Eocenchrea Muir Eocenchrea Muir 1913a: 36 Gonyphlepsia Jacobi 1928: 39, synonymised by Muir 1934: 565
Eocenchrea costalis (Jacobi) Gonyphlepsia costalis Jacobi 1928: 39 Eocenchrea costalis (Jacobi), Muir 1934: 565	Qld
Eocenchrea costalis var. fusca (Metcalf) Gonyphlepsia costalis var. Jacobi 1928: 39 Gonyphlepsia costalis var. fusca Metcalf 1936: 254, nom nov for Gonyphlepsia costalis var. Jacobi 1928: 39 Eocenchra costalis var. fusca (Metcalf), new combination Note: This new combination follows from Muir's (1934) transfer of G. costalis to Eocenchrea.	Qld
Eocenchrea hiva (Kirkaldy) Lamenia hiva Kirkaldy 1906: 404 Eocenchrea hiva (Kirkaldy), Muir 1913a: 37	Qld
Eocenchrea montistympani (Jacobi) Gonyphlepsia montistympaniJacobi 1928: 39 Eocenchrea montistympani (Jacobi), Muir 1934: 565	Qld
Eocenchrea pulla Muir Eocenchrea pulla Muir 1924: 29	NSW

Family Derbidae - Derbid planthoppers

Species of Derbidae known to occur in Australia

Subfamily Otiocerinae

Tribe ZORAIDINI

Genus Lydda Westwood

Genus Zoraida Kirkaldy

Tribe SIKAIANINI

Genus Sikaiana Distant

Tribe RHOTANINI

Genus Alara Distant

Genus Dichotropis Muir

Genus Levu Kirkaldy

Genus Rhotana Walker

Genus Saccharodite Kirkaldy

Tribe OTIOCERINI

Genus Deribia Westwood

Genus Heronax Kirkaldy

Genus Kaha Kirkaldy

Genus Kuranda Distant

Genus Makula Distant

Genus Swezeyia Kirkaldy

Genus Vivaha Distant

Tribe KAMENDAKINI

Genus Kamendaka Distant

Kamendaka (Eosaccharissa Kirkaldy)

Subfamily Derbinae

Tribe CENCHREINI

Genus Basileocephalus Kirkaldy

Genus Lamenia Stål

Subfamily Cedusinae

Tribe BREDDINIOLINI

Genus Hemielissum Emeljanov & Fletcher

Tribe CEDUSINI

Genus Cedusa Fowler

Genus Eocenchrea Muir