New species of Triassic Homoptera and Heteroptera from the Brookvale
series of New South Wales and Mt. Crosby, Queensland, are described, one
homopteron from the Upper Permian of Warner's Bay, N.S.W., and Homoptera
previously recorded from Palaeozoic and Mesozoic strata in Australia and
elsewhere are reviewed. New illustrations, made from type specimens, are
given for some Australian species.
Representatives of the family Scytinopteridae, previously known only
from Permian strata, are recorded from the Triassic.
Two forewings of uncertain affinities, but having venational features
similar to hylicids, are ascribed to species in genera placed in a new family,
the Hylicellidae.
For leaf-hoppers which are regarded as transitional between the
Palaeozoic and Mesozoic faunas, a new family, the Stenoviciidae, is proposed,
and another new family, the Chiliocyclidae, is proposed for a group of
Mesozoic leaf-hoppers of wide distribution.
A forewing from the Triassic of Queensland is identified as that of a
eurymelid and another as a cicadellid.
The earliest undoubted cercopid, so far recorded, is described from the
Triassic; a new family, the Eoscarterellidae, is defined to comprise insects of
probable cercopoid affinities, and the family Dysmorphoptilidae is transferred
to the Cercopoidea.
As the genus Palaeontina Butler is considered not to be a homopteron,
a new family name, the Cicadomorphidae, is proposed for large Homoptera
with cicada-like wings, previously recorded only from the Jurassic of Europe
and which formerly have been included in the family Palaeontinidae. A new
genus and species belonging to the Cicadomorphidae is described from the
Triassic of New South Wales.
The relationships of a new family, the Cicadoprosbolidae, and of the
Mesogereonidae are discussed and both are considered to be allied to the
Cicadidae.
Two new psylloids are described and also an aphid, the latter being the
first representative of the Aphidoidea to be recorded from Triassic strata.
No new fulgoroids are described but problems associated with the determination
of fulgoroid venation are discussed.
The genus Actinoscytim Tillyard is transferred from the Homoptera to
the Heteroptera and together with three new genera ascribed to a new family,
the Actinoscytinidae. The family Ipsviciidae, formerly regarded as belonging
to the Homoptera is also removed to the Heteroptera. The family Dunstaniidae
is reviewed in the light of a re-examination of type specimens. Fossil fragments,
poorly-preserved specimens, and wings of uncertain position which
have at some time been referred to the Homoptera, are listed, and some are
discussed. Possible derivations and interrelationships of the various major
groups of Homoptera are indicated by means of a chart.