The three taro planthoppers: species recognition inTarophagus(Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Abstract

AbstractThe taro-feeding delphacid genusTarophagusis revised. Three species are recognized:T. colocasiae(Matsumura) stat. rev. & comb. n. with whichT. proserpina taiwanensisWilson is synonymized;T. persephone(Kirkaldy) with whichT. proserpinoides(Muir) andT. proserpina australisFennah are synonymized; andT. prosperpina(Kirkaldy). The three species are separated by characters of the male and female genitalia, and each has a different distribution in Asia and the Pacific. Only in Papua New Guinea are all three species sympatric. Earlier studies on biology and pest status are reviewed in the light of these investigations.