Taxonomy of the tribe Rhotanini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae) from China

WEIQIANG CHEN — 2026-05-27

The planthopper tribe Rhotanini (Derbidae), comprising approximately 300 species worldwide, is predominantly distributed in humid tropical regions. Although the tribe is also well represented in China, only 24 species have been previously reported from the country. This study presents a comprehensive review of the Chinese Rhotanini fauna.

In the present study, a checklist for the species of each genus within the tribe is provided. Identification keys to species are also provided for all multi-species genera recorded in China. Fifteen new species, Alara fuscimacula Chen & Zhang, A. wangi Chen & Zhang, Rhotana bimaculata Chen & Zhang, R. grisea Chen & Zhang, R. nubilimacula Chen & Zhang, R. paratruncata Chen & Zhang, R. qinlingensis Chen & Zhang, R. ruficlypea Chen & Zhang, R. shuimoa Chen & Zhang, R. wuyiensis Chen & Zhang, Saccharodite bannaensis Chen & Zhang, S. jianfenglingensis Chen & Zhang, S. luteoides Chen & Zhang, S. nigrolineata Chen & Zhang, and S. qixianlingensis Chen & Zhang spp. nov., are described. In addition, Dichotropis Muir and 12 species: Dichotropis amboinensis Muir, Muiralevu parva Zelazny, Rhotana aperta Zelazny, R. jacobsoni Zelazny, R. spenceri Zelazny, R. tridentata Zelazny, R. trimaculata Distant, Saccharodite affinis Zelazny, S. basipunctulata (Melichar), S. imperiali Zelazny, S. indochinensis Zelazny, and Sumangala furcata Zelazny, are reported as new records for China. Illustrations are provided for all the new species and Chinese new records.

Zootaxa

Taxonomy of the tribe Rhotanini (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae) from China