Enigmatic distribution: first record of a hitherto New World planthopper taxon from Japan (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea, Delphacidae, Plesiodelphacinae)

By

Asche, Manfred.
Hayashi, Masami
Fujinuma, Satoshi

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2016

Original Publication

Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift

Volume

63

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

75--88

Subjects

Burnilia , Fulgoromorpha , island endemism , taxonomy , West Pacific , Zoogeography

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Berlin Nicolai'sche Verlags-Buchandlung 1881-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.63.7178

 

Abstract

Burnilia japonica sp. n. of the delphacid subfamily Plesiodelphacinae from southern Japan (Kyushu, Yakushima, Okinawa) is described. The surprising discovery of a Burnilia-species in Japan is the first record of a member of this subfamily outside the New World. As the generic assignment is beyond any doubts, this finding reveals a puzzling geographic distribution of this group. A natural – indigenous – occurrence of B. japonica in Japan versus a recent introduction e.g., by human traffic, is discussed. A phylogenetic study of the whole Plesiodelphacinae including the Japanese species is desired.