An annotated checklist with a key to the genera of Australian psyllids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea)

Authors

Francesco Martoni, Agriculture Victoria Research; AgriBio Centre; Bundoora; Victoria Australia
Justin S. Bartlett, Plant Biosecurity Laboratory; Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Melinda L. Moir, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Martin J. Steinbauer, Department of Ecology; Environment and Evolution; La Trobe University; Melbourne; Victoria, Australia
Gary S. Taylor, Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity; and Department of Biodiversity & Evolutionary Biology; School of Biological Sciences; The University of Adelaide; South Australia, Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-28-2024

Journal Title

Zootaxa

ISSN

Print: 1175-5326 Electronic: 1175-5334

Keywords

Hemiptera, Jumping plant lice, Aphalaridae, Psyllidae, Triozidae, Liviidae, Calophyidae, Carsidaridae, Lerp insects

Disciplines

Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Entomology | Environmental Monitoring | Horticulture | Natural Resources Management and Policy

Abstract

The diversity of the psyllids of Australia reflects that of the plants of this country, with large radiations and ecological dominance of Myrtaceae (e.g., Eucalyptus), Fabaceae (e.g., Acacia), Casuarinaceae (e.g., Allocasuarina, Casuarina) and Scrophulariaceae (e.g., Eremophila, Myoporum). Within Australian ecosystems, psyllids are critical components of food webs, especially with respect to providing energy-rich resources for many species of birds and insects and, historically, humans. Furthermore, in horticulture, agriculture and forestry, some Australian psyllid species are considered pests, causing leaf senescence and ‘dieback’, leaf deformation and inducing growth of sooty mould, with some adventive species capable of acting as vectors of plant pathogens. Several species are considered beneficial, having been introduced as biological control agents of weeds. Additionally, some Australian psyllids have established in other countries, or in regions within Australia that are not within their natural range; while others have such limited geographical ranges that they are of conservation concern. Here we provide an updated checklist of the species of Psylloidea present in Australia and updated a previous key to their genera based on adult morphology. This is the first checklist of the Australian psyllids compiled since the most recent global taxonomic classification, and provides detailed information on biogeographical, ecological and anthropogenic aspects, including global distribution, host plant data, pest status, conservation status, parasitoids, predators, and biological control programs. Our checklist includes information on 66 genera and 450 species, 414 formally described and 36 awaiting descriptions. This represents an increase of almost 20% of species since the last published checklist of 2004, which reported 354 described and 21 undescribed taxa. Additionally, we summarise the available information on more than 150 undescribed taxa. Finally, we reported here more than 60 new records, between distributions and host plant associations.

Recommended Citation

Martoni, F, Bartlett, J S, Moir, M L, Steinbauer, M J, and Taylor, G S. (2024), An annotated checklist with a key to the genera of Australian psyllids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea). Zootaxa, 5500 (1), 1-213.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_research/132