A Review of the Systematics of Hawaiian Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

Abstract

With 206 endemic species, the phytophagous Fulgoroidea, or planthoppers, are among the most important elements of the native Hawaiian fauna. These principally monophagous or oligophagous insects occur in nearly all Hawaiian terrestrial ecosystems. Species of two of the 18 planthopper families occurring worldwide have successfully colonized and subsequently radiated in Hawai'i. Based on collections made mainly by Perkins, Kirkaldy, Muir, Giffard, and Swezey, more than 95% of these species were described in the first three decades of this century. The systematics of the Hawaiian planthoppers has changed little in the past 60 yr and is not based on any phylogenetic analyses. This paper attempts a preliminary phylogenetic evaluation of the native Hawaiian p1anthoppers on the basis of comparative morphology to recognize monophyletic taxa and major evolutionary lines. The following taxa are each descendants of single colonizing species: in Cixiidae, the Hawaiian Oliarus and Iolania species; in De1phacidae, Aloha partim, Dictyophorodelphax, Emoloana, Leialoha + Nesothoe, Nesodryas, and at least four groups within Nesosydne. Polyphyletic taxa are the tribe "Alohini," Aloha s.l., Nesorestias, Nesosydne s.l., and Nothorestias. Non-Hawaiian species currently placed in Iolania, Oliarus, Aloha, Leialoha, and Nesosydne are not closely allied to the Hawaiian taxa. The origin of the Hawaiian planthoppers is obscure. The Hawaiian Oliarus appear to have affinities to (North) American taxa.