Family Tropiduchidae

Subfamily Tambiniinae Kirkaldy, 1907

Gaetuliini Fennah, 1978 (sensu Gnezdilov 2007)

(Note: Historically part of Issidae [e.g., Fennah 1954]; subsequently transferred to Nogodinidae [Fennah 1984], then to Tropiduchidae [Gnezdilov 2007]).

Genus Dictyssonia Ball, 1936

Type species (in original combination): Dictyssonia beameri Ball, 1936.

Synonyms: none.

Distribution: Southwestern US (Arizona).

Recognized species

There is a single species recognized in the genus:

Dictyssonia beameri Ball, 1936 - USA: AZ

Economic Importance:

Limited.

Known host plants: 

None reported.

Hosts from Wilson et al. (1994); plant names from USDA PLANTS or Tropicos.

Recognition:

Dictyssonia an be recognized among the Gaetuliini by the forewings, covering the abdomen (vs. Danepteryx or Osbornia), forewing shape; forewing more elongate, costal margin somewhat rounding with a distinct bulla present at base of each wing; vertex not obtusely produced, distance from eye to apex of head much less than width of eye; posterior tibiae with 3 lateral spines.

Dictyssonia beameri (All photos by Kimberley Shropshire, Department of Entomology, University of Delaware)

Dictyssonia is not on Bugguide at present, but is here on Discover Life.

Collecting

Dictyssonia is collected by inspecting likely host plants or sweeping.

Molecular resources: As of this writing, data for Danepteryx sp. is available on Genbank, and on Barcode of life.

Selected references:

Ball, E. D. 1936. Some new Issidae with notes on others (Homoptera- Fulgoridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 49: 155-157.

Doering, K. C. 1939. A contribution to the taxonomy of the subfamily Issinae in America north of Mexico (Fulgoridae, Homoptera). Part III. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 26: 83 167.

Fennah, R. G. 1954. The Higher classification of the family Issidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) with descriptions of new species. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 105(19): 455-474.

Fennah, R. G. 1984. Revisionary notes on the classification of the Nogodinidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea), with descriptions of a new genus and a new species. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 120: 81-86.

Gnezdilov, V. M. 2007. On the systematic positions of the Bladinini Kirkaldy, Tonginae Kirkaldy, and Trienopinae Fennah (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea). Zoosystematica Rossica 15: 293-297.

Kirkaldy, G. W. 1907. Leafhoppers supplement (Hemiptera). Bulletin of the Experiment Station of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, Entomological Series 3:1-186, plus 20 plates.

Kirkaldy, G. W. 1908. A brief note on three (two new) California Fulgoroid Hemiptera. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 2: 22-23.

Melichar, L. 1906. Monographie der Issiden. (Homoptera). Abhandlungen der K. K. Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 3: 1-327.

Metcalf, Z. P. 1958. General catalogue of the Homoptera. Fasc. IV. Fulgoroidea, Part 15. Issidae. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 561 pp.

O’Brien, L. B. 1988. Taxonomic changes in North American Issidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 81: 865-869.

Uhler, P. R. 1889. New genera and species of American Homoptera. Transactions of the Maryland Academy of Sciences 1: 33-44.

Wilson, S. W., C. Mitter, R. F. Denno, and M. R. Wilson. 1994. Evolutionary patterns of host plant use by delphacid planthoppers and their relatives. In: R. F. Denno and T. J. Perfect, (eds.). Planthoppers: Their Ecology and Management. Chapman and Hall, New York. Pp. 7-45 & Appendix.