Scaralina marmorata explained

Scaralina marmorata is a species of planthopper in the family Fulgoridae, found throughout the southeastern United States.[1] It is one of four species (the others being Scaralina aethrinsula, Scaralina cristata, and Scaralina metcalfi) that were, for several decades, erroneously grouped together under a single name, Alphina glauca; this name is now treated as a synonym of S. marmorata.[1]

Taxonomy

Historically, this species has been incorrectly associated with three other genera; the genus Calyptoproctus (which molecular DNA evidence suggests is not in the tribe Poiocerini),[2] the genus Crepusia, a slightly more closely related genus from South America, and Alphina, a closely-related genus also from South America.

Biology

Scaralina marmorata is associated with oaks (Quercus spp.).[1] It is the only species in the genus routinely found at elevations below 1000 meters.[1]

Distribution

Scaralina marmorata is found from central Texas up to Oklahoma and across to Virginia, and all areas south and east of this, wherever oaks are found.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Yanega . D. . Goemans . G. . Van Dam . M. . Gómez-Marco . F. . Hoddle . M. . 2024 . Description of a new genus of North and Central American planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) with fourteen new species . Zootaxa . 5443 . 5443 . 1–53 . 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5443.1.1. free .
  2. Urban, J.M. & Cryan, J.R. (2009) Entomologically famous, evolutionarily unexplored: The first phylogeny of the lanternfly family Fulgoridae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50(3): 471–484.