The leafhopper genus Batracomorphus (Cicadellidae, lassinae) in the eastern Oriental anri Australian regions W. J. Knight Department of Entomology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Contents Synopsis Introduction Historical review Abbreviations of depositories Acknowledgements Remarks Batracomorphus Lewis Morphology and species-groups Biology Distribution Techniques and methods Key to eastern Oriental and Australian species of Batracomorphus (males only) . Nomina dubia Nomen nudum References Index Synopsis 27 27 29 30 30 30 30 31 33 34 36 37 205 206 206 208 The Old World lassine genus Batracomorphus Lewis is revised for the eastern Oriental and Australian regions and characters are given for its separation from the other genus of the tribe in this area. Descriptions are given of the males of each of the 188 known species, of which 161 are new, and a key is provided for their separation. The morphological variability, distribution and biology of the group in the area are discussed. Three new generic synonymies, three new specific synonymies and 18 new combina-tions are established, and one species and one genus raised from synonymy. A replacement name is provided for a junior secondary homonym. One lectotype is designated and 25 nomina dubia and one nomen nudum listed. Introduction The Cicadellidae is the largest family in the Homoptera, the 11,000 or more known species exceeding the combined total for the related groups Aphidoidea, Psylloidea and Aleyrodoidea. Unlike the Aphidoidea, which are mainly temperate, the Cicadellidae attains its maximum development and diversity in the tropics, resembling in this respect both the Psylloidea and Aleyrodoidea. As in these other groups, the species feed by sucking plant sap from the xylem, phloem or mesophyll cells and inflict damage to the host plant either directly or by the transmission of virus or virus-like diseases. Their economic importance as virus vectors is becoming increasingly recognised and a full account of the known vector species, diseases and host plants is given by Nielson (1968) and Maramorosch & Harris (1979). At the present time the Cicadellid fauna of the tropics is relatively little known and much basic taxonomy on the family is still to be carried out. There are two characteristic features of most studies on Cicadellidae. Firstly, most species are Bull. Br. Mas. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 47 (2): 27-210 Issued 24 November 1983
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