Shcherbakov D.E. 2012. More on Mesozoic Membracoidea (Homoptera) // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.21. No.1: 15–22 [in English].
Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya St. 123, Moscow, 117997 Russia; dshh@narod.ru
KEY WORDS: Homoptera, Cicadomorpha, Membracoidea, Hylicellidae, Archijassidae, Karajassinae, fossil, phylogeny, venation, jumping, brochosomes, Mesozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous.
ABSTRACT. New monobasic genera from the Middle Jurassic of South Siberia (Kisa fasciata gen. et sp.n., Kubecola guttatus gen. et sp.n., Kemobius lux gen. et sp.n.) and Cicadellium Westwood, 1854 are placed in the subfamily Karajassinae stat.n. Cicadellium psocus Westwood, 1854 (= Cercopidium telesphorus Westwood, 1854, syn.n.) is designated as the type species of the genus Cicadellium (the second species, C. dipsas Westwood, 1854 is transferred to Psocoptera). A new monobasic genus from the Upper Jurassic of South Mongolia (Dellashara tega gen. et sp.n.) and four Early Cretaceous genera are assigned to the subfamily Dellasharinae subfam.n. Both subfamilies are included into the family Archijassidae placed in the superfamily Membracoidea. Mesojassus Tillyard, 1916 and Triassojassus Tillyard, 1919 from the Upper Triassic of Australia belong in Archijassinae and represent the earliest records of the superfamily. The sequence of acquisition of membracoid features is outlined. The early evolution of Membracoidea is discussed. Karajassinae probably coated their integuments with brochosomes or related particles produced in the Malpighian tubules, because these insects already acquired the leafhopper characters associated with brochosome transport: long hind legs with rows of tibial macrosetae, narrow tegmina with MP+CuA1 anastomosis, and reduced surface sculpture.