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Issue: Vol. 5723 No. 2: 25 Nov. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-11-25
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5723.2.3
Page range: 209-226
Abstract views: 47
PDF downloaded: 3

A new genus and species of otiocerine planthopper (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Derbidae) from coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) in Jamaica, revised status of Shellenius schellenbergii and an updated molecular phylogeny of New World Otiocerinae

University of Florida; Department of Entomology and Nematology - Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center; 3205 College Ave.; Davie; FL 33314-7719; USA
Coconut Industry Board; 18 Waterloo Road; Kingston 10; Jamaica W. I.
University of Florida; Department of Entomology and Nematology - Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center; 3205 College Ave.; Davie; FL 33314-7719; USA
University of Delaware; Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology; 250 Townsend Hall; Newark; DE 19716-2160; USA
Hemiptera biodiversity Caribbean barcoding taxonomy phylogeny

Abstract

Recent survey work in Jamaica has uncovered a large number of new species of planthoppers in the families Derbidae and Cixiidae on palms (Arecaceae). Herein, a new genus and species of planthopper, Litophallus inornatus gen. et sp. nov., is described from coconut palm. Molecular data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 18S rRNA gene and D8–D10 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene is provided and analyzed for the novel taxon and other available New World Otiocerinae. These findings are important because they provide novel data to help better understand the diversity and evolution of this unique group of planthoppers. Finally, Shellenius schellenbergii (McAtee, 1923) is transferred to the new genus as Litophallus schellenbergii comb. nov.

 

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How to Cite

Bahder, B.W., Myrie, W., Helmick, E.E. & Bartlett, C.R. (2025) A new genus and species of otiocerine planthopper (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Derbidae) from coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) in Jamaica, revised status of Shellenius schellenbergii and an updated molecular phylogeny of New World Otiocerinae. Zootaxa, 5723 (2), 209–226. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5723.2.3