Membracis foliata (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Membracinae) and allied species: an effort towards their correct determination

Abstract

Some species of Membracis share a long history of misidentifications, especially the type-species M. foliata (Linnaeus, 1758). After a thorough analysis of the literature and type-specimens, taxonomic remarks are provided on these problematic species to enable their accurate identification. The following species are treated: M. foliata (Linnaeus, 1758), M. foliataarcuata (DeGeer, 1773), M. foliatafasciata (DeGeer, 1773) sp. reval. (= M. c-album Fairmaire, 1846 syn. nov., = M. flexa Walker, 1858 syn. nov., = M. suctifructus Boulard and Couturier, 1991 syn. nov., = M. lunata Fabricius, 1787 syn. nov.), M. celsa Walker, 1851 (= M. rectangula Costa, 1862 syn. nov.), M. fairmairi Goding, 1928, M. fusifera Walker, 1858 (= Phyllotropis subtecta Buckton, 1901 syn. nov.). Lectotype is designated for Cicada foliata Linnaeus, 1758. Three new species, M. latifasciata Sakakibara and Evangelista sp. nov., M. luizae Evangelista and Sakakibara sp. nov. and M. obliquifasciata Evangelista and Sakakibara sp. nov. are described and illustrated.

Keywords:

• Auchenorrhyncha
• Membracini
• taxonomy
• nomenclatural notes
• new species

Acknowledgements

This article is contribution number 1807 of the Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná.

We would like to express our great appreciation to M.D. Webb, L. Livermore, A.L. Henriques, M. Fitton, A. Soulier Perkins, G. Lindberg, N.P. Kristensen, R.R. Cavichioli and Taxon line (Vitor Galdino), for helpful assistance during type material examination and imaging. All type-specimen photographs were reproduced with kind permission of all collections and institutions here listed. Also, we thank A.J. Creão-Duarte for collecting additional specimens of one newly described Membracis species; and C. Lin, D.M. Takiya and three anonymous reviewers for their critical suggestions on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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