Melanoliarus, Hendrix & Bartlett, 2025

Hendrix, Solomon V. & Bartlett, Charles R., 2025, Reclassification of the Planthopper Genus Melanoliarus Fennah, 1945 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae), primarily North of Mexico, with Notes on American Pentastirini, Zootaxa 5619 (1), pp. 1-87 : 61

Melanoliarus incertae sedis

Fig. 2B , 38 , 47

Remarks. Several species currently placed in Melanoliarus do not belong to Melanoliarus s.s. and do not fit the new genera and subgenera defined here. Some species were studied but are of unclear affinities (or we were reluctant to place them in monotypic genera), and others (from south of the U.S.) require additional descriptive characterization. For now, we retain them in Melanoliarus s.l. to convey their American distribution (as opposed to referring them to Oliarus or Pentastirini incertae sedis). However, two species (‘ Oliarus ’ opalinulus ( Fig. 35 ) and ‘ Oliarus ’ quadratus ( Fig. 36 )) are referred here to Pentastirini incertae sedis after a review of the unique female holotypes. For both species, placement to genus seems unlikely without a comprehensive characterization of the female terminalia of the tribe or the speculative association of males. Preliminary work by F.W. Mead on the female terminalia in Pentastirini north of Mexico was begun, but never completed.

Species Composition

Melanoliarus abacus (Caldwell, 1947) .

Melanoliarus altanus ( Ball, 1934) .

Melanoliarus arizonensis ( Mead & Kramer, 1982) .

Melanoliarus canyonensis ( Mead & Kramer, 1982) .

Melanoliarus catus (Caldwell, 1947) .

Melanoliarus chiriquensis ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus coconinus ( Ball, 1934) .

Melanoliarus excelsus ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus franciscanus ( Stål, 1859) .

Melanoliarus humeralis ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus insignior ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus isolatus (Caldwell, 1947) .

Melanoliarus lacteipennis ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus nanatus (Caldwell, 1951) .

Melanoliarus nigroalutaceus ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus papagonus ( Ball, 1934) .

Melanoliarus propior ( Fowler, 1904) .

Melanoliarus pygmaeus ( Ball, 1937) .

Melanoliarus rarus (Caldwell, 1947) .

Melanoliarus texanus ( Metcalf, 1923) .

Melanoliarus transitorius ( Berg, 1883) .

II. Synonyms, new combinations, species of uncertain status, and remarks on select species

IIa. Synonyms

Figures

FIGURE 2. Morphological terminology of aedeagal complex, illustrations adapted from line art of Mead & Kramer 1982; A) ventral view of aedeagal complex (Amiarus (Umbrarus) humilis comb. nov.); B) dorsal view of aedeagal complex (Melanoliarus coconinus); annotations: Es = endosoma, EsA = apical process(es) of endosoma, EsD= dorsal process of endosoma,Aj = aedeagal joint, Per = periandrium, Sp = sinistral process of periandrium, Dp = dextral process of periandrium, Mvp = medioventral process of periandrium, Mdp = mediodorsal process of periandrium.

FIGURE 35. Oliarus opalinus holotype (female), A) dorsal habitus view, B) lateral habitus view, C) frontal view, D) head and thorax, E) labels.

FIGURE 36. Oliarus quadratus holotype (female), A) dorsal habitus view, B) lateral habitus view, C) frontal view, D) head and thorax, E) labels.

FIGURE 38. Oliarus transitorius holotype. A) dorsal habitus view, B) lateral habitus view, C) frontal view, D) labels.

FIGURE 47. Male terminalia in situ, select Melanoliarus incertae sedis species, ventral view, A) Melanoliarus arizonensis, B) Melanoliarus papagonus, C) Melanoliarus pygmaeus, D) Melanoliarus texanus.