Phylogeny and systematics of the leafhopper subfamily Ledrinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) 2186
Author
Jones, Joshua R.
Author
Deitz, Lewis L.
text
Zootaxa
2009
2009-08-06
2186
1
1
120
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2186.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.2186.1.1
11755334
5311592
Genus
Rubria
Stål
(Pl. 4E–G, 6D, 7C, 10A, 13E, 16J, 19D)
Rubria
Stål, 1865: 158
.
Type
species
.
Petalocephala (Rubria) sanguinosa
Stål, 1865: 158
, by original designation.
Synonymy. Ledracephala
Evans, 1947: 252
(
type
species:
Ledra brevifrons
Walker, 1851: 825
).
Description.
Evans (1966)
: “The anteclypeus narrows anteriorly and extends beyond the margin of the maxillary plates. The post clypeus widens progressively posteriorly as far as the antennae, which lie posterior to the eyes. The antennal depressions are basin-like and antennal ledges are lacking. An obscure epistomal suture is retained, and the frons, which is ill-defined, is either concave or raised medially. The crown of the head, which is longer in the male than in the female [error—vice versa], is spatulate and transversely convex, or widely tectiform, with a median longitudinal ridge. It may be as long or more than twice the length of the pronotum. The ocelli are nearer to each other than to the eyes. The pronotum is laterally wide and on a single plane (not humped posteriorly). The tegmina are steeply tectiform and have normal venation, sometimes with accessory costal veinlets. The metathoracic tibiae have 2 widely spaced spines mounted on prominent spurs and a row of evenly spaced long spines.”
Species.
[7]:
brevifrons
(Walker)
;
informis
(Kirkaldy)
;
ingens
(Kirkaldy)
;
rugosa
Evans
;
sanguinosa
(Stål)
;
sidnica
(Stål)
;
smalei
Evans.
Range.
Australia
(
New South Wales
: Conan, Ebor,
Mt. Kosciusko
, New England, Sydney,
Wilson’s Valley
; North
Australia
[=
Northern Territory
?];
Queensland
: Birkdale, Brisbane, Cairns, Tambourine, Tibrogargen;
South Australia
: Peebinga;
Victoria
: Bendigo,
Mount Donna Buang
); New
Guinea
(Kassam); Tasmania (
Lake St. Clair
; New Norfolk)
.
Host plants.
Some species collected in Malaise traps in
Nothofagus
(Nothofagaceae)
and
Eucalyptus
(Myrtaceae)
forests.
R. informis
reportedly collected (K. Menard, personal communication) on
Melaleuca
(Myrtaceae)
in
New South Wales
.
Material examined.
R. brevifrons
:
1 male
,
2 females
,
Australia
,
ASCU
,
JRJ
_Led1_157–158, 163;
R. informis
:
1 male
,
Australia
,
USNM
,
JRJ
_Led1_160,
1 male
,
1 female
,
Australia
,
BMNH
,
JRJ
_Led1_159,
1 male
,
1 female
,
Australia
,
AMNH
,
JRJ
_Led1_164;
R. sanguinosa
:
1 female
,
Australia
,
BMNH
,
1 female
,
Australia
,
MNHN
,
1 female
,
Australia
,
USNM
,
JRJ
_Led1_166,
3 females
,
Australia
,
BPBM
,
JRJ
_Led1_293– 295,
1 male
,
3 females
,
Australia
,
ASCU
,
JRJ
_Led1_165, 450, 479;
Rubria
sp.
:
1 male
,
Australia
,
BPBM
,
JRJ
_Led1_292.
Remarks.
Stål (1865)
created
Rubria
as a subgenus of
Petalocephala
Stål, and
Evans (1966)
elevated it to generic rank.
Rubria
is very similar to
Petalocephala
in shape and texture, but differs in having a slightly more convex face, smaller, more tab-like proepisterna, in the lateral carinae of the pronotum being absent, in the metathoracic femur apical macrosetae being mounted on a prominent narrowed base, and in the forewings having regular venation. It is among the oldest lineages in
Ledrinae
and appears to be the sister group to
Hespenedrini
+
Ledrini
.