Insect keys » Membracoidea

Subfamily Tartessinae: Tribe Stenocotini

Stenocotis depressa (Walker)

The Australian Stenocotini are medium sized to larger leafhoppers associated with eucalypt trees. The Australian Ledromorpha planirostris (Donovan), which was transferred from the Ledrini to the Stenocotini by Jones & Deitz (2009), is the world's largest leafhopper reaching an overall length of 28mm. Most species appear to live and feed on the trunk of smooth-barked trees where remnants of old bark provide shelter when necessary. Some of the species are highly variable in colour and size, with the widespread and common Stenocotis depressa having been described as a new species 14 times, including 9 times in the one publication by Walker (1851)!

The Stenocotini were transferred from the Ledrinae to the Tartessinae by Jones & Deitz (2009).

Species of Stenocotini known to occur in Australia

Genus Anacotis Evans

Anacotis Evans 1937d: 161

Anacotis hackeri Evans

Anacotis hackeri Evans 1937d: 162

[update: image added 11.vii.2003]

Qld

Genus Kyphocotis Kirkaldy

Kyphocotis Kirkaldy 1906: 370

Kyphocotis claudenda (Walker)

Ledra claudenda Walker 1858: 359
Stenocotis claudenda (Walker), Distant 1907: 194
Kyphocotis claudenda (Walker), Evans 1966: 107

Qld

Kyphocotis nigrescens (Distant)

Stenocotis nigrescens Distant 1907: 194
Kyphocotis nigrescens (Distant), Evans 1937d: 161

[update: 5.iii.2010, image added, NT added]]

Qld, NT

Kyphocotis parva Distant

Kyphocotis parva Distant 1907: 197

[update: image added 11.vii.2003]

Qld, NT, WA

[NT, WA update: 22.xi.2011]

Kyphocotis tessellata Kirkaldy

Kyphocotis tessellata Kirkaldy 1906: 371
Kyphocotis fasciata Distant 1907: 196, synonymised by Evans 1966: 107

[update: image added 11.vii.2003]

Qld, WA

Genus Kyphoctella Evans

Kyphoctella Evans 1966: 111

Kyphoctella distorta Evans

Kyphoctella distorta Evans 1966: 112

NT, Qld

Genus Ledracotis Evans

Ledracotis Evans 1937d: 162

Ledracotis gunnensis Evans

Ledracotis gunnensis Evans 1937d: 162

Known hosts: Eucalyptus piperita (Myrtaceae) (Day and Fletcher 1994)
[update: image of male added 27.ii.2002]

NSW, Vic

Genus Ledromorpha Stål

Ledromorpha Stål 1864 : 68

Ledromorpha planirostris (Donovan)

Fulgora planirostris Donovan 1805: pl.1
Ledra gladiata Blanchard 1840: 194, synonymised by Stål 1864: 68
Ledra caudata Walker 1851: 813, synonymised by Stål 1862: 495
Ledra valida Walker 1851: 814, synonymised by Stål 1862: 495
Ledromorpha vaginata Stål 1864: 68, synonymised by Evans 1966: 97
Ledromorpha planirostris (Donovan), Stål 1864: 68

Known hosts: under bark of Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)
Note: A specimen in the J.W. Evans collection is labelled from Tasmania with no further data [update: 24.i.2001]

Qld, NSW, Vic, Tas, SA
[Tas update: 24.i.2001]

Genus Smicrocotis Kirkaldy

Smicrocotis Kirkaldy 1906 : 370

Smicrocotis brunneus (Evans)

Kyphocotis brunneus Evans 1947d: 252
Smicrocotis brunneus (Evans), Evans 1966: 110

NSW

Smicrocotis obscura Kirkaldy

Smicrocotis obscura Kirkaldy 1906: 370
Smicrocotis infuscata Distant 1907: 195, synonymised by Evans 1966: 109
Smicrocotis pallescens Distant 1907: 195, synonymised by Evans 1966: 109
Smicrocotis projecta Distant 1907: 196, synonymised by Evans 1966: 109
Smicrocotis sidnica Kirkaldy 1907: 28, synonymised by Shcherbakov et al. 2000: 42
Smicrocotis chelonia Evans 1937d: 160, synonymised by Evans 1966: 109

Note: Shcherbakov et al. (2000) provided some biological information on the species and synonymised S. sidnica Kirkaldy (1907: 28) with S. obscura. The figures from that paper are reproduced here in colour. [update: 7.viii.2000]

Qld, NSW, Vic,
SA, Tas, WA

[WA update: 1.xii.2011]

Smicrocotis solomoni Evans

Smicrocotis solomoni Evans 1937d: 160

Genus Stenocotis Stål

Stenocotis Stål 1854 : 254

Stenocotis depressa (Walker)

Ledra depressa Walker 1851: 817
Ledra brevis Walker 1851: 820, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra australis Walker 1851: 821, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra corticalis Walker 1851: 814, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra varia Walker 1851: 819, synonymised by Evans 1937d: 158
Ledra ferruginea Walker 1851: 817, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra conferta Walker 1851: 818, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra unicolor Walker 1851: 819, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Ledra costalis Walker 1851: 821, synonymised by Evans 1937d: 158
Stenocotis planiuscula Stål 1854: 254, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Stenocotis subvittata Stål 1854: 254, synonymised by Stål 1862: 495
Ledra delineata Walker 1858a: 250, synonymised by Stål 1862: 495
Stenocotis depressa (Walker), Stål 1862: 495
Stenocotis dimorpha Kirkaldy 1907: 27, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105
Stenocotis reticulata Kirkaldy 1907: 27, synonymised by Evans 1966: 105

Qld, NSW, ACT,
Vic, Tas, SA, WA,
NT, Hong Kong,
Philippines