Family Cixiidae

Subfamily Cixiinae

Tribe Oecleini Muir, 1922

Genus Haplaxius Fowler, 1904.

Type species (in original combination): Haplaxius laevis Fowler, 1904.

Synonyms:

= Paramyndus Fennah, 1945a (Type species Paramyndus cocois Fennah, 1945a; junior syn. of Myndus crudus Van Duzee 1907); syn. with Myndus by Kramer, 1979: 303-304.
= Myndus Stål, 1862a (auctorum; Type species Flata musiva Germar 1825); syn. by Kramer 1979: 303; removed from syn. by Emeljanov 1989: 62-64; also Holzinger et al. 2002: 128.

.

Distribution: Widespread in New World.

Recognized species

There are 34 species north of Mexico, plus an additional 30 species in the Neotropics.

1 Haplaxius balli (Kramer, 1979) - USA: AZ
     = Myndus balli Kramer, 1979: 325-326.
     = Haplaxius balli (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
2 Haplaxius beameri (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ
     = Myndus beameri Ball, 1933c: 480.
     = Haplaxius beameri (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
3 Haplaxius catalinus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ, NM, TX
     = Myndus catalinus Ball, 1933c: 481.
     = Haplaxius catalinus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
4 Haplaxius collinus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: CO, MT; CAN: SK
     = Myndus collinus Ball, 1933c: 482.
     = Haplaxius collinus Ball, 1933c; comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
5 Haplaxius crena (Kramer, 1979) - USA: AZ, CO
     = Myndus crena Kramer, 1979: 318-320.
     = Haplaxius crena Kramer, 1979; comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
6 Haplaxius crudus (Van Duzee, 1907) - USA: FL, TX; Belize, Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman), Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba (inc. Isle of Pines), Jamaica, Mexico (Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo), Panama, Venezuela, Trinidad
     = Myndus crudus Van Duzee, 1907: 33.
     = Paramyndus crudus (Van Duzee, 1907); comb. by implication Fennah 1945b: 142.
     = Paramyndus cocois Fennah, 1945a: 424-425.
     = Haplaxius crudus (Van Duzee, 1907); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov, 1989: 62.
     = Haplaxius cocois (Fennah, 1945a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203.
     = Haplaxius pallidus Caldwell, 1946: 204; syn. by Kramer 1979: 346-347.
     = Haplaxius cocois (Fennah, 1945a); syn. by Kramer 1979: 346; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
7 Haplaxius dozieri (Kramer, 1979) - USA: MS
     = Myndus dozieri Kramer, 1979: 340.
     = Haplaxius dozieri (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
8 Haplaxius enotatus (Van Duzee, 1909) - USA: FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, VA; CAN: QC; Cuba
     = Myndus enotatus Van Duzee, 1909: 188.
     = Haplaxius enotatus (Van Duzee, 1909); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
9 Haplaxius flocki (Kramer, 1979) - USA: AZ, CA; Mexico (Baja California)
     = Myndus flocki Kramer, 1979: 342-344.
     = Haplaxius flocki (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov, 1989: 62.
10 Haplaxius fulvus (Osborn, 1903a) - USA: CT, IL, KS, KY, MA, NY, OH, TN; CAN: ON
     = Myndus fulvus Osborn, 1903a: 46.
     = Haplaxius fulvus (Osborn, 1903a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
11 Haplaxius gabrielensis Flock, 1951- USA: CA
     = Haplaxius gabrielensis Flock, 1951: 169.
     = Myndus gabrielensis (Flock, 1951); comb. by Kramer 1979: 328, 330; restored to Haplaxius by Emeljanov 1989: 62.
12 Haplaxius glyphis (Kramer, 1979) - USA: MA, NY, TN; CAN: NB, QC
     = Myndus glyphis Kramer, 1979: 311-312.
     = Haplaxius glyphis (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
13 Haplaxius impiger (Ball, 1902a) - USA: CO, NM
     = Myndus impiger Ball, 1902a: 153.
     = Haplaxius impiger (Ball, 1902a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
14 Haplaxius lophion lophion (Kramer, 1979) - USA: AZ, CO
     = Myndus lophion lophion Kramer, 1979: 349-350 (subspecific combination by implication).
     = Haplaxius lophion lophion (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
     Haplaxius lophion alpha (Kramer, 1979) - USA: CO
     = Myndus lophion alpha Kramer, 1979: 350.
     = Haplaxius lophion alpha (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
15 Haplaxius lunatus (Van Duzee, 1909) - USA: FL
     = Myndus lunatus Van Duzee, 1909: 189.
     = Haplaxius lunatus (Van Duzee, 1909); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
16 Haplaxius mojavensis (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ, CA, NV
     = Myndus mojavensis Ball, 1933c: 480.
     = Haplaxius mojavensis (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
17 Haplaxius neopusillus (Kramer, 1979) - USA: FL
     = Myndus neopusillus Kramer, 1979: 338-339.
     = Haplaxius neopusillus (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
18 Haplaxius nevadensis (Kramer, 1979) - USA: AZ, NV
     = Myndus nevadensis Kramer, 1979: 325.
     = Haplaxius nevadensis (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov, 1989: 62.
19 Haplaxius nigrifrons (Ball, 1937) - USA: TX
     = Myndus nigrifrons Ball, 1937: 179.
     = Haplaxius nigrifrons (Ball, 1937); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
20 Haplaxius nolinus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ, NM
     = Myndus nolinus Ball, 1933c: 481.
     = Haplaxius nolinus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
21 Haplaxius occidentalis (Van Duzee, 1914) - USA: AZ, CA, ID, OR, UT
     = Myndus occidentalis Van Duzee, 1914: 39.
     = Haplaxius occidentalis (Van Duzee, 1914); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
22 Haplaxius ovatus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: DE, GA, IA, KS, MA, MD, NE, NJ, OK, VA
     = Myndus ovatus Ball, 1933c: 483.    
     = Haplaxius ovatus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
23 Haplaxius pictifrons (Stål, 1862a) - USA: CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA; CAN: ON, QC; Cuba
     = Myndus pictifrons Stål, 1862a: 307.
     = Haplaxius pictifrons (Stål, 1862a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
     = Myndus sordipennis Stål, 1862a: 308.
     = Haplaxius sordipennis (Stål, 1862a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; syn. by Kramer 1979: 314, 316.
24 Haplaxius pusillus (Van Duzee, 1909) - USA: CT, FL, GA, MA, NC, NH, NJ, VA

     = Myndus pusillus Van Duzee, 1909: 190.
     = Haplaxius pusillus (Van Duzee, 1909); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
     = Haplaxius perrinei Caldwell, 1951: 34; syn. by Kramer 1979: 336, 338.
25 Haplaxius radicis (Osborn, 1903b) - USA: DC, DE, IL, IN, KS, MD, MS, NC, NY, OH, OK, TN, TX, VA
     = Myndus radicis Osborn, 1903b: 42.
     = Haplaxius radicis (Osborn, 1903b); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203.
     = Myndus delicatus Van Duzee, 1908: 492.
     = Haplaxius delicatus (Van Duzee 1908); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; syn. by Kramer 1979: 320-321.
26 Haplaxius rubidus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: TX
     = Myndus rubidus Ball, 1933c: 483.
     = Haplaxius rubidus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
27 Haplaxius slossonae (Ball, 1902a) - USA: FL, GA, KS, MO, MS, OK, TX
     = Myndus slossoni Ball, 1902a: 154.
     = Haplaxius slossoni (Ball, 1902a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203.
     = Myndus slossonae (Ball, 1902a); emendation to by Kramer 1979: 334, 336.
     = Haplaxius slossonae (Ball, 1902a); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
28 Haplaxius texensis (Kramer, 1979) - USA: FL, GA, KS, MO, MS, OK, TX
     = Myndus texensis Kramer, 1979: 333.
     = Haplaxius texensis (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62. USA: TX
29 Haplaxius truncatus (Metcalf, 1923) - USA: IA, IL, WI
     = Myndus truncatus Metcalf, 1923: 184.
     = Haplaxius truncatus (Metcalf, 1923); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
30 Haplaxius viridicatus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ, CA
     = Myndus viridicatus Ball, 1933: 483.
     = Haplaxius viridicatus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
31 Haplaxius viridis (Ball, 1902a) - USA: AZ, CA, CO (reported in error: USA: IA, NJ, OH)
     = Myndus viridis Ball, 1902a: 153.
     = Haplaxius viridis (Ball, 1902a); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.
     = Myndus auratus Ball, 1933c: 434; syn. by Caldwell 1946: 203.
     = Haplaxius auratus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Kramer 1979: 340, 342.
32 Haplaxius wheeleri (Wilson, 1996) (in Wheeler & Wilson 1996) - USA: NJ, PA
     = Myndus wheeleri Wilson, 1996: 103-104 (in Wheeler & Wilson 1996).
     = Haplaxius wheeleri (Wilson, 1996); comb. by Bartlett et al. 2011: 12.
33 Haplaxius xyron (Kramer, 1979) - USA: MI, NY; CAN: ON, QC
     = Myndus xyron Kramer, 1979: 312-314.
     = Haplaxius xyron (Kramer, 1979); comb. by implication Emeljanov 1989: 62.
34 Haplaxius yuccandus (Ball, 1933c) - USA: AZ
     = Myndus yuccandus Ball, 1933c: 482.
     = Haplaxius yuccandus (Ball, 1933c); comb. by Caldwell 1946: 203; also Emeljanov 1989: 62.

Neotropical species (from an unpublished list by Lois O'Brien)
1 Haplaxius akko (Kramer 1979:372) - Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
2 Haplaxius brimosis (Kramer 1979:366) - Bolivia
3 Haplaxius caldwelli (Kramer 1979:359) - Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico

4 Haplaxius cabrerensis Ferreira, McKamey, & Sanchez, 2010 - Dominican Republic
   Haplaxius crudus (Van Duzee, 1907:33) - see above
5 Haplaxius deleter (Kramer 1979:379) - Panama
6 Haplaxius delta (Kramer 1979:376) - Belize, , Guatemala, Panama
7 Haplaxius dolon (Kramer 1979:384) - Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
8 Haplaxius fennahi (Kramer 1979:382) - Peru
9 Haplaxius frontalis Fowler 1904:98) - Mexico
10 Haplaxius gnophos (Kramer 1979:366) - Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina
11 Haplaxius gomphos (Kramer 1979:374) - Mexico
12 Haplaxius hochae O’Brien 2006:313) - Dominica
13 Haplaxius jamaicae (Kramer 1979: 355) - Jamaica, Dominican Republic
14 Haplaxius laevis Fowler l904:98) - Mexico
15 Haplaxius lyssa (Kramer 1979:364) - Peru, Ecuador, Brazil
16 Haplaxius meadi (Kramer 1979:388) - Mexico
17 Haplaxius mokos (Kramer 1979:363) - Peru
18 Haplaxius nimbus (Kramer 1979:368) - Venezuela
19 Haplaxius phylax (Kramer 1979:362) - Costa Rica
20 Haplaxius serratus (Caldwell 1946:204) - Mexico
21 Haplaxius sillos (Kramer 1979:363) - Peru
22 Haplaxius simplicatus Caldwell, 1946:204 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama
23 Haplaxius skarphion (Kramer 1979:386) - Br Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama
24 Haplaxius spanglerorum (Kramer 1979:380) - Peru
25 Haplaxius sparagma (Kramer 1979:374) - Guatemala
26 Haplaxius synavei (Kramer 1979:378) - Venezuela
27 Haplaxius tekmar (Kramer 1979:368) - Mexico
28 Haplaxius tekton (Kramer 1979:382) - Peru
29 Haplaxius thryligma (Kramer 1979:372) - Brazil
30 Haplaxius vilbastei (Kramer 1979:379) - Argentina

Economic Importance:

Haplaxius crudus (Van Duzee 1907) is a vector of Lethal Yellowing of coconut palms in Florida (Howard et al. 1983; Howard 1987), and perhaps elsewhere.

Known host plants: 

Haplaxius beameri - Agave americana L. (American century plant, Agavaceae), Yucca (Agavaceae)

Haplaxius catalinus - Yucca

Haplaxius crudus - Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud (Arecaceae, Canary Island date palm), Cocos nucifera L. (coconut palm), Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze (St. Augustine grass, Poaceae), Paspalum notatum Flueggé (bahiagrass), Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Bermudagrass)

Haplaxius enotatus - grass, Juncus (Rush, Juncaceae), 'marsh grasses'

Haplaxius gabrielensis - Hesperoyucca whipplei (Torr.) Baker (chaparral yucca, Agavaceae), sedges

Haplaxius glyphis - Populus (Salicaceae)

Haplaxius lophion - Pinus (Pinaceae, Pine)

Haplaxius mojavensis - Yucca brevifolia Engelm. (Joshua tree, Agavaceae)

Haplaxius nigrifrons - Nolina Michx. (beargrass, Liliaceae)

Haplaxius nolinus - Nolina microcarpa S. Watson (sacahuista, Liliaceae), Dasyochloa pulchella (Kunth) Willd. ex Rydb.(low woollygrass, Poaceae, as Triodia pulchella)

Haplaxius occidentalis - Juncus, Washingtonia filifera (Linden ex André) H. Wendl.(California fan palm, Arecaceae)

Haplaxius pictifrons - Phalaris arundinacea L. (reed canarygrass, Poaceae), grasses (streamside)

Haplaxius radicis - Impatiens L. (touch-me-not, Balsaminaceae), grasses, nettles

Haplaxius rubidus - "Palmetto" (presumably Sabal palmetto (Walter) Lodd. ex Schult. & Schult. f. (cabbage palmetto, Arecaceae))

Haplaxius simplicatus - Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T.Q. Nguyen (para grass, as Panicum barbinode)

Haplaxius slossonae - Juncus, 'grasses'

Haplaxius tekmar - Agave

Haplaxius texansis - Yucca thompsoniana Trel. (Thompson's yucca)

Haplaxius yuccandus - Yucca

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

Recognition:

Without spines on hind tibiae before apex, tegulae evident, carina on longitudinal midline of frons present, median carina of frons evident; Vertex without distinct carina on both longitudinal midline and between anterior portions of eyes; longitudinal midlength of mesonotum about 2x or less longitudinal midlength of vertex, widespread.

Haplaxius radicis

\

Haplaxius pictifrons

Haplaxius ? slossonae (Texas)

Collecting

I've had best luck sweeping grasses and sedges near streams.

Molecular resources: Genbank has data for Haplaxius crudus and Haplaxius sp. (Genbank lists Haplaxius deleter, and H. skarphion, but the generic status of these species requires confirmation); Barcode of Life has data for 7 species, all recorded under Myndus (H. balli, H. fulvus,
H. glyphis, H. ovatus, H. pictifrons, H. radicis, H. xyron)

Selected references:

Cherry, R. H. and F. W. Howard. 1984. Sampling for adults of the planthopper Myndus crudus, a vector of lethal yellowing of palms. Tropical Pest Management 30(1): 22-25.

Eden-Green, S. J. and M. Schuiling. 1976. “Root acquisition” transmission tests with Haplaxius crudus (Hom: Cixiidae) and Proarna hilaris (Hom: Cicadidae).(Abstract). Principes 20: 66.

Farr, T. H. 1985. The earliest known date of collection of Myndus crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae) from coconut palms in Jamaica. Florida Entomologist 68(1): 226-227.

Ferreira, M., S. H. McKamey, and R. T. Martinez. 2010. New records of Haplaxius (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) in the Dominican Republic, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 2614: 65-68.

Flock, R. A. 1951. A new species of Haplaxius, with a key to California species (Homoptera: Cixiidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 27(4): 169-171.

Howard, F. W. 1980. Population densities of Myndus crudus Van Duzee (Homoptera: Cixiidae) in relation to coconut lethal yellowing distribution in Florida. Principes 24:174-178.

Howard, F. W. 1981. Pigment migration in the eye of Myndus crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae) and its relation to day and night activity. Insect Science and Its Application 2(3): 129-133.

Howard, F. W. 1981. Attractiveness of date and coconut palms to Myndus crudus and other homopterans. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society 93:199-201.

Howard, F. W. 1987. Myndus crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae), a vector of lethal yellowing of palms. Pp. 117-129.  In: M.R. Wilson and L.R. Nault,(eds.). Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Leafhoppers and Planthoppers of Economic Importance : Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA, 28th July-1st August 1986. CAB International Institute of Entomology.

Howard, F. W. 1989. Evaluation of six species of grasses as breeding host of Myndus crudus, a vector of lethal yellowing in palms. Proceedings of the Caribbean Food Crops Society 25: 144-146.

Howard, F. W. 1990. Evaluation of grassess for cultural control of Myndus crudus, a vector of lethal yellowing of palms. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 56: 131-137.

Howard, F. W. 1990. Evaluation of Brachiaria and St. Augustune grasses as breeding hosts of Myndus crudus Van Duzee, a vector of leathal yellowing disease of Palms. Beiträge zur Tropischen Landwirtschaft und Veterinarmediziz (Leipzig) 28: 425-430.

Howard, F. W. 2006. American Palm Cixiid, Myndus crudus Van Duzee (Insecta: Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae). Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. document EENY-389 (IN704).

Howard, F. W. and C. Oropeza, 1998. Organic mulch as a factor in the nymphal habitat of Myndus crudus (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cixiidae). Florida Entomologist 81(1): 92-97.

Howard, F. W. and D. L. Thomas. 1980. Transmission of palm lethal decline to Veitchia merrillii by a planthopper, Myndus crudus. Journal of Economic Entomology 73: 715-717.

Howard, F. W., R.C. Norris, and D. L. Thomas. 1983. Evidence of transmission of palm lethal yellowing agent by a planthopper, Myndus crudus (Homoptera: cixiidae). Tropical Agriculture 60: 168-171.

Howard, F. W., J. P. Kramer, and M. Teliz-Ortiz. 1984. Myndus crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae) in Cancun, Mexico. Florida Entomologist 67: 577-579.

Julia, J. F. 1982. Myndus taffini (Homoptera: Cixiidae), vecteur du deperissement foliaire des cocotiers au Vanuatu. Oleagineux 37(8-9): 409-414.

Kramer, J. P. 1979. Taxonomic study of the planthopper genus Myndus in the Americas (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 105(3): 301-389.

OEPP/EPPO. 1986. EPPO Data Sheet on Quarantine Organisms no. 159: palm lethal yellowing mycoplasm. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 16(1): 61-66.

Reinert, J. A. 1977. Field biology and control of Haplaxius crudus on St. Augustine-grass and Christmas palm. Journal of Economic Entomology 70: 54-56.

Reinert, J. A. 1980. Phenology and density of Haplaxius crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae) on three southern turfgrasses. Environmental Entomology 9: 13-15.

Tsai, J. H. and O. H. Kirsch. 1978. Bionomics of Haplaxius crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae). Environmental Entomology 7(2): 305-308.

Tsai, J. H., N. L. Woodiel, and O. H. Kirsch. 1976. Rearing techniques for Haplaxius crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae). Florida Entomologist 59: 41-43.

Tsai, J. H. 1977. Attempts to transmit lethal yellowing of coconut palms by the planthopper Haplaxius crudus. Plant Disease Reporter 61: 304-307.

Wilson, S. W. and J. H. Tsai. 1982. Descriptions of the immature stages of Myndus crudus (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 90(3): 166-175.

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

Woodiel, N. L. and J. H. Tsai. 1978. A rotary trap used for sampling Haplaxius crudus (Homoptera: Cixiidae) in coconut groves. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 86(1): 37-44.