Rubria Stål, 1865

Jones, Joshua R. & Deitz, Lewis L., 2009, Phylogeny and systematics of the leafhopper subfamily Ledrinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) 2186, Zootaxa 2186 (1), pp. 1-120 : 59

Genus Rubria Stål

(Pl. 4E–G, 6D, 7C, 10A, 13E, 16J, 19D)

Rubria Stål, 1865: 158 .

Type species. Petalocephala (Rubria) sanguinosa Stål, 1865: 158 , by original designation.

Synonymy. Ledracephala Evans, 1947: 252 (type species: Ledra brevifrons Walker, 1851: 825 ).

Description. Evans (1966): “The anteclypeus narrows anteriorly and extends beyond the margin of the maxillary plates. The post clypeus widens progressively posteriorly as far as the antennae, which lie posterior to the eyes. The antennal depressions are basin-like and antennal ledges are lacking. An obscure epistomal suture is retained, and the frons, which is ill-defined, is either concave or raised medially. The crown of the head, which is longer in the male than in the female [error—vice versa], is spatulate and transversely convex, or widely tectiform, with a median longitudinal ridge. It may be as long or more than twice the length of the pronotum. The ocelli are nearer to each other than to the eyes. The pronotum is laterally wide and on a single plane (not humped posteriorly). The tegmina are steeply tectiform and have normal venation, sometimes with accessory costal veinlets. The metathoracic tibiae have 2 widely spaced spines mounted on prominent spurs and a row of evenly spaced long spines.”

Species. [7]: brevifrons (Walker) ; informis (Kirkaldy) ; ingens (Kirkaldy) ; rugosa Evans ; sanguinosa (Stål) ; sidnica (Stål) ; smalei Evans.

Range. Australia (New South Wales: Conan, Ebor, Mt. Kosciusko, New England, Sydney, Wilson’s Valley; North Australia [= Northern Territory?]; Queensland: Birkdale, Brisbane, Cairns, Tambourine, Tibrogargen; South Australia: Peebinga; Victoria: Bendigo, Mount Donna Buang ); New Guinea (Kassam); Tasmania ( Lake St. Clair ; New Norfolk) .

Host plants. Some species collected in Malaise traps in Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) and Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) forests. R. informis reportedly collected (K. Menard, personal communication) on Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) in New South Wales.

Material examined. R. brevifrons : 1 male, 2 females, Australia, ASCU, JRJ _Led1_157–158, 163; R. informis : 1 male, Australia, USNM, JRJ _Led1_160, 1 male, 1 female, Australia, BMNH, JRJ _Led1_159, 1 male, 1 female, Australia, AMNH, JRJ _Led1_164; R. sanguinosa : 1 female, Australia, BMNH , 1 female, Australia, MNHN , 1 female, Australia, USNM, JRJ _Led1_166, 3 females, Australia, BPBM, JRJ _Led1_293– 295, 1 male, 3 females, Australia, ASCU, JRJ _Led1_165, 450, 479; Rubria sp. : 1 male, Australia, BPBM, JRJ _Led1_292.

Remarks. Stål (1865) created Rubria as a subgenus of Petalocephala Stål, and Evans (1966) elevated it to generic rank.

Rubria is very similar to Petalocephala in shape and texture, but differs in having a slightly more convex face, smaller, more tab-like proepisterna, in the lateral carinae of the pronotum being absent, in the metathoracic femur apical macrosetae being mounted on a prominent narrowed base, and in the forewings having regular venation. It is among the oldest lineages in Ledrinae and appears to be the sister group to Hespenedrini + Ledrini .