Jumping plant-lice of the Paurocephalinae (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea): systematics and phylogeny

Abstract

Much confusion exists with respect to the content and definition of the psyUid subfamily Paurocephalinae. Based on a cladistic analysis of 22 morphological characters (16 adult and 6 larval), the subfamily is redefined to comprise the following five valid genera: Aphorma (3 species), Camarotoscena (12 valid species, with 1 new synonymy), DiC/idophlebia (= Aconopsylla, Haplaphalara, Paraphalaroida, Sinuonemopsylla and Woldaia; 24 species), Paurocephala (52 species) and Syntomoza (= Anomoterga and Homalocephata; 7 species). The tribe Diclidophlebiini is synonymised with the subfamily Paurocephalinae. The seven new generic synonymies produce 25 new species combinations. A key to genera for adults and fifth instar larvae is presented. In their revised definitions the genera exhibit relatively restricted distributions and host ranges: Aphorma: Palaearctic, Oriental - Ranunculaceae; Camarotoscena: Palaearctic - Salicaceae; Diclidophtebia: pantropical - Tiliaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Melastomataceae, Rhamnaceae, Ulmaceae and Euphorbiaceae; Paurocephala: Old World tropics - Moraceae, Urticaceae. Ulmaceae (all Urticales), Malvaceae. Sterculiaceae (all Malvales) and Clusiaceae (rheales); Syntomoza: Oriental, Afrotropical, Palaearctic - Flacourtiaceae, Salicaceae. The following taxa which have been referred to the Paurocephalinae are transferred to other taxa: Atmetocranium to the Calophyidae and Primascena to the Aphalaroidinae; Pseudaphorma is symonymised with Aphatara, and P. astigma with A. polygoni; the position of Strophingia is confirmed in the Strophingiinae.