Subfamily Stenocraninae Wagner 1963 and Tribe Stenocranini Wagner 1963

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[back to A checklist of New World delphacid species]

Family Delphacidae Leach, 1815

Subfamily Stenocraninae Wagner, 1963

Tribe Stenocranini Wagner, 1963

(formative draft)

The subfamily Stenocraninae consists of the single tribe Stenocranini.

In the New World, the Stenocraninae include the following genera (with links to genus-page for each; see also below):

Frameus Bartlett, 2009 (Type species Frameus simatus Bartlett, 2010; 5 species, Mesoamerica)
Kelisicranus Bartlett, 2006 (Type species Kelisicranus arundiniphagus Bartlett, 2006; Monotypic, central US)
Obtusicranus Bartlett, 2006 (Type species Obtusicranus bicarinus Bartlett, 2006; 2 species, western US, Northern Mexico)
Stenocranus Fieber, 1866 (type species Fulgora minuta Fabricius, 1787; ~68-73 species, widespread, mostly north temperate); subgenus Codex Hamilton, 2006 (Type species Delphax vittata Stål, 1862; Nearctic)
Tanycranus Bartlett, 2009 (Type species Tanycranus elongatus Bartlett, 2010; monotypic, Neotropical)

Distribution: The Stenocraninae are generally of Holarctic distribution, although a few taxa are found in the Neotropical, Indo-Malayan and Afrotropical regions (map from FLOW below is still a bit incomplete).

Distribution of the Stenocraninae from FLOW (as of 12 July 2017).

Plant Associations: A compilation of host plants for Stenocraninae are here.

Features and relationships:

The Stenocraninae was first treated as a subfamily by Wagner, 1963.  Asche (1985, 1990) retained it as a subfamily in his extensive examination of the classification of Delphacidae. However, Emeljanov (1996) treated the Stenocraninae as a tribe of Delphacinae (i.e., the Stenocranini within Delphacinae), and Hamilton (2006), following Emeljanov, treated the Kelisiini as the sister group to the Stenocranini and proposed treating them as subtribes within the Stenocranini (i.e., subfamily Delphacinae, tribe Stenocranini with subtribes Stenocranina and Kelisiina).  The treatment of Stenocraninae as a subfamily or as a tribe of Delphacinae (along with all the other subfamilies of Eudelphacinae) is largely a matter of convention, since the proposed branching pattern of the delphacid phylogeny as presented by Asche (1985, 1990) and Emeljanov (1996) is the same for the advanced delphacid lineages.  The proposed sistergroup relationship between the Stenocraninae and Kelisiinae can be tested by phylogenetic techniques.

Urban et al. (2010) examined the higher classification of Delphacidae using 4 genes and morphology.  Their work largely substantiated the phylogeny of the high taxa of Delphacidae as initially proposed by Asche (1985).  Some support was found for the sister-group relationship between the Kelisiinae and Stenocraninae, although since the support was equivocal, they proposed maintaining these taxa as subfamilies until the issue could be more closely examined.

There are a number of features that help recognition of the Stenocraninae, although one of these features is not uniformly present within the Stenocraninae.  A synapomorphy is that the members of the subfamily are ditrysic – which means that females possess two genital openings, one for the egress of eggs and one for copulation; however, because this feature is not easily observed, it is not that helpful for recognition.  Stenocranines have a large, foliaceous and tectiform (tent-like) calcar (in contrast to Plesiodelphacinae and Kelisiinae), with a row of fine teeth along the posterior margin. Beneath the calcar, Asche (1990) noted that one of the teeth at the apex of the tibiae has been modified into a rectangular-platelike base.  This feature is true of Stenocranus minutus (the type species of Stenocranus), for example, but I do not believe the feature to be widespread (but I have not sufficiently reviewed the feature).  Many (but not all) species have a greatly expanded portion of the ovipositor (see below).  The arrangement of the male genitalia is perhaps the key to recognizing the subfamily: the aedeagus is sclerotized (membranous in Delphacinae) and only partially enclosed within a membranous phallotheca (so that the apex of the sclerotized aedeagus extends beyond the membranous phallotheca); the apex of the phallotheca often bears an apical (or subapical) ventrally directed “horn-shaped process” (the phallotheca is distally membranous).  In Stenocranines, the phallotheca and the aedeagus are separated, and the aedeagus is (clearly) movable within the phallotheca.  The phallotheca often incompletely encloses the aedeagus.  Many Nearctic Stenocranus have an unusual modification of this arrangement.  Unlike Kelisiinae, segment 10 usually bears 1 or 2 pairs of processes, and I have not observed any vestige of an aedeagal flagellum. Like other advanced delphacids, the tymbal of the male is sexually dimorphic and the apodemes of the 2nd abdominal sternite are directed caudad (not dorsad is an Plesiodelphacinae). Stenocraninae tend to have a slightly to distinctly forward-projecting head.

The subanal process of Kelisiinae is absent in stenocraninae (but see Kelisicranus).

In Delphacinae the phallotheca and aedeagus are fused (and said to be membranous, as opposed to sclerotized in, e.g., Kelisiinae and Stenocraninae) such that the ‘sperm-conducting tube’ is not evident).

Stenocranus, the largest genus of stenocraninae, is not monophyletic and needs revision.  A number of species, particularly those in the Pacific and Indo-Malayan regions, do not belong in Stenocranus, and some are probably not in the Stenocraninae.

Top, base of calcar of Stenocranus minutus; bottom pygofer of Obtusicranus bifidus.

A. Gonoplacs expanded (Frameus porrectus Bartlett), B. Gonoplacs normal (Kelisicranus arundiniphagus Bartlett).

Generic diversity and recognition

There are nine genera in the Stenocraninae, of which 5 occur in the New World.  The four that do not are as follows:

1. Stenokelisia Ribaut, 1934 (Known from a single species S. angusta Ribaut, 1934 from France):

2. Terauchiana Matsumura, 1915 from the eastern Palearctic.  Terauchiana is known from 4 species (T. aurantiaca (Dubovsky, 1966), T. nigripennis Kato 1933, T. sagitta (Kusnezov, 1929), and T. singularis Matsumura, 1915:

Terauchiana sagitta (Kusnezov, 1929)

Terauchiana sagitta

3. Preterkelisia Yang, 1989 known from two species from Taiwan and China (Preterkelisia magnispinosus (Kuoh, 1981), and P. yasumatsui (Esaki et Ishihara, 1950).

 

4. Embolophora Stal, 1853, from Africa consists of 3 species (Embolophora britmusei Asche, 1983; E. monoceros Stal, 1855, and E. theroni Asche, 1983) (note: Embolophora is the senior synonym of Liburnia, and some species formerly in that genus may be nomenclaturally orphaned into Embolophora).

Embolophora monoceros Stal, 1855

Embolophora britmusei Asche, 1983

The 5 remaining genera in the Stenocraninae occur in the New World and each will have its own web page, linked from the list of New World species below.

New World species

Key to New World genera of Stenocraninae (Modified from Bartlett 2009)

1 Vertex greatly elongate and strongly projecting; distance from eye to tip of head at least as long as length of eye in dorsal view (usually much longer); vertex L:W ratio greater than 4:1; in lateral view, lateral carinae of frons and vertex meeting prior to fastigium, forming a combined carina … 2

1’   Vertex less elongate, head weakly projecting, distance from eye to tip of head less then length of eye in dorsal view (usually much shorter); vertex L:W ratio less than 3:1; in lateral view, lateral carinae of frons and vertex meeting near fastigium  … 3

2 Fastigium in lateral view distinctly truncate; carinae of frons single near frontoclypeal suture (may be weak), forked from between eyes to fastigium; legs pale; male genitalia with single pair of processes on segment X; phallobase short with long sclerotized projection; South America … Tanycranus

2’    Fastigium in lateral view blunt or rounded, narrowed at apex; carinae of frons usually paired to frontoclypeal suture; legs usually with dark foveae; male genitalia usually with two pair of processes on segment X; phallobase elongate, surrounding aedeagus to near apex with straight or hooked terminal projections; MexicoFrameus

Tanycranus elongatus

Tanycranus elongatus from Brazil

Tanycranus elongatus

Tanycranus elongatus terminalia, lateral view

Frameus obrienae

Frameus obrienae terminalia, ;ateral view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Frons medially bicarniate; male with segment X bearing 2 pairs of ventral processes (Figs 12G, H); SW USA and Mexico … Obtusicranus

3’   Frons with a single median carina; male with segment X usually bearing a single pair of ventral processes …. 4

Obtusicranus bicarnus

Obtusicranus bicarnus frons (line = 0.5 mm)

Kelisicranus arundiniphagus

Kelisicranus arundiniphagus frons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obtusicranus bicarinus

Obtusicranus bicarinus terminalia

Kelisicranus arundiniphagus

Kelisicranus arundiniphagus terminalia

4 Fastigium angle of head acute in lateral view; gonoplacs of female not greatly enlarged (see images above); male genitalia bearing subanal process; processes on segment X symmetrical; USA: TN, IL, MO … Kelisicranus

4’  Fastigium angle of head rounded in lateral view; gonoplacs of female greatly expanded (except S. similis); make genitalia lacking subanal process; processes on segment X may be asymmetrical; widespread  …  Stenocranus

Genus Frameus Bartlett, 2010
Frameus dissociatus Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Durango)
Frameus obrienae Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Federal District, Morelos, Michoacan)
Frameus porrectus Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Chihuahua)
Frameus prolatus Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Durango)
Frameus simatus Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Durango)

Frameus porrectusFrameus porrectus with greatly elongated head

Genus Kelisicranus Bartlett, 2006
Kelisicranus arundiniphagus Bartlett, 2006 – USA: IL, MO, TN
= Terauchiana n. sp. Hamilton, 2006; synonymy by Bartlett, 2010: 468.

Kelisicranus arundiniphagusKelisicranus arundiniphagus

Genus Obtusicranus Bartlett, 2006
Obtusicranus bicarinus Bartlett, 2006 – USA: AZ, CO, UT
Obtusicranus bifidus Bartlett, 2010 – Mexico (Federal District)

Genus Stenocranus Fieber, 1866
Subgenus Stenocranus Hamilton 2006
Stenocranus (Stenocranus ) felti Van Duzee, 1910 – USA: ME, NH, NY; CAN: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, PE
Stenocranus (Stenocranus ) sandersoni Beamer, 1946 – USA: IL; CAN: BC, ON, QC, SK

Subgenus Codex Hamilton, 2006
Stenocranus (Codex) acutus Beamer, 1946 – USA: FL, GA, MS, NC
Stenocranus (Codex) angustus Crawford, 1914 – USA: GA; Belize, Honduras
Stenocranus (Codex) arundineus Metcalf, 1923 – USA: GA, NC; CAN: AB
Stenocranus (Codex) brunneus Beamer, 1946 – USA: IL, KS, NC, SC
Stenocranus (Codex) delicatus Beamer, 1946 – USA: IL, KS
Stenocranus (Codex) dorsalis (Fitch, 1851) – USA: CO, CT, DC, FL, IA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, VA, WI; CAN: AB?, ON, QC; Isle of Pines (Cuba) [as S. pallidus Beamer: USA: IL, MO, WI, TN; CAN: AB, BC, MB, NB, ON, PE, QC, SK]
= Stenocranus pallidus Beamer, 1946; Syn. by Hamilton 2006: 498-499.
= Stenocranus unipunctatus (Provancher, 1872); Syn. by Van Duzee, 1912: 325 [error: restored to species status by Beamer, 1955: 5]
Stenocranus (Codex)  lautus Van Duzee, 1897 – USA: CT, DC, FL, IA, IL, KS, MD, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA; CAN: BC?, ON, QC; CUBA
Stenocranus (Codex) ramosus Beamer, 1946 – USA: FL, GA, NC
Stenocranus (Codex) similis Crawford, 1914 – USA: AL, IL, KY, MS, NC, SC
Stenocranus (Codex) unipunctatus (Provancher, 1872) (nec. Beamer 1946: 5) – USA: IL, NH; CAN: ON, QC
Restored to species status from S. dorsalis by Beamer, 1955: 5.
Stenocranus (Codex) vittatus (Stål, 1862)
= Stenocranus unipunctatus Beamer, 1946a: 5 (nec. Provancher); Syn. and new status by Hamilton 2006: 499.

Incertae sedis
Stenocranus maculipes (Berg, 1879) – Argentina

Stenocranus sandersoniStenocranus sandersoni with slightly projecting head

Genus Tanycranus Bartlett, 2010
Tanycranus  elongatus Bartlett, 2010 – Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Uruguay

Tanycranus elongatus

References

Anufriev, G. A. and A. F. Emeljanov. 1988. Volume II: Homoptera and Heteroptera. In: P.A. Lehr (ed.). Keys to the Insects of the Far East of the USSR in Six Volumes, Transliteration of the Russian title: Opredelitel’ nasekomykh Dal’nego Vostoka SSSR v shesti tomakh. Vol. 2. Ravnokrylye i poluzhestkokrylye. In: P.A. Lehr, (ed.). Keys to the Insects of the Far East of the USSR in Six Volume. Nauka, Leningrad.

Asche, M. 1985. Zur Phylogenie der Delphacidae Leach, 1815 (Homoptera: Cicadina: Fulgoromorpha). Marburger Entomologische Publikationen 2(1):1-398 AND 2(2): 399-910.

Asche, M. 1990. Vizcayinae, a new subfamily of Delphacidae with revision of Vizcaya Muir (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) – a significant phylogenetic link. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 30: 154-187.

Bartlett, C. R. 2006 (dated 2005). Two new genera and species of stenocranine planthoppers (Hemiptera : Delphacidae) from North America. Entomological News 116(5): 291-303.

Bartlett, C. R. 2009. Diversity in New World Stenocranine Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 135(4): 443-486.

Bartlett, C. R. and A. G. Wheeler, Jr. 2007. Kelisia and Stenocranus species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae): new host-plant associations and distributional records of eight sedge-feeding planthoppers. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 109(2): 400-415.

Bartlett, C. R., L. B. O’Brien and S. W. Wilson. 2014. A review of the planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 50: 1-287.

Chen, X. S. and A. P. Liang. 2005. A taxonomic study of subfamily Stenocraninae (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea, Delphacidae) From China, with description of a new species of the genus Stenocranus. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 30(1): 123-129.[Chinese]

Ding, J. H. 2006. Fauna Sinica Insecta Vol. 45 Homoptera Delphacidae. Science Press, Beijing, China.

Emeljanov, A. F. 1996. On the question of the classification and phylogeny of the Delphacidae (Homoptera, Cicadina), with reference to larval characters. Entomological Review 75(9): 134-150. [the PDF is really bad, but it is all I have].

Hamilton, K.G.A. 2006. The planthopper genus Stenocranus in Canada: implications for classification of Delphacidae (Hemiptera). Canadian Entomologist, 138(4): 493-503.

Holzinger, W. E., I. Kammerlander and H. Nickel. 2003. Fulgoromorpha, Cicadomorpha excluding Cicadellidae. Volume 1. The Auchenorrhyncha of Central Europe. Brill Academic Publishing, Leiden, Netherlands.

Nickel, H. 2003. The Leafhoppers and Planthoppers of Germany (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha), Patterns and strategies in a highly diverse group of phytophagous insects , Pensoft Series Faunistica 28, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Ribaut, H. 1934. Nouveaux Delphacides (Homoptera-Fulgoroidea). Bulletin de la Societe d`Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse 66 (2): 281-301.

Urban J. M., C. R. Bartlett and J. R. Cryan. 2010. Evolution of Delphacidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea): combined-evidence phylogenetics reveals importance of grass host shifts. Systematic Entomology 35(4): 678-691.

Wagner, W. 1963 [dated 1962]. Dynamische Taxionomie, angewandt auf die Delphaciden Mitteleuropas. Mitteilungen aus dem Hamburgischen Zoologischen Museum und Institut 60: 111-189.

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 [host information in the appendix].

Yang, C. T. 1989. Delphacidae of Taiwan II (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea). NSC Special Publications 6: 1-334.

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