Platycentrini
Haupt, 1929
Genus Guides
2Platycentrini is a tribe of treehoppers within the Centrotinae, Membracidae. Members of this tribe are characterized by specific wing venation patterns and male genitalia structures that distinguish them from related tribes such as Boocerini. The tribe includes such as Platycentrus and Tylocentrus, with distributed in North America, including the southwestern United States and Mexico. The genus Platycentrus was established by Stål and includes species with distinct horn-like pronotal projections.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Platycentrini: //ˌplætɪˈsɛntrɪnaɪ//
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Identification
Platycentrini can be distinguished from the tribe Boocerini by the absence of hair-like setae on the of the second pair of legs and differences in the structure of the male genital capsule. The tribe lacks the wing venation characters used to diagnose Boocerini. Members of Platycentrini possess a pronotum that extends backward but does not fully cover the scutellum, a characteristic of the primitive Centrotinae. Specific wing arrangements in the forewing separate this tribe from Monobelini and Nessorhinini of the Caribbean Antilles.
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Distribution
of Platycentrini occur in North America, with records from the southwestern United States (California) and Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla). The Platycentrus has been documented in California and multiple locations in Mexico. The tribe is part of the primarily New World fauna of Membracidae, with the Centrotinae being the only membracid subfamily with representation in both the Old and New Worlds.
Similar Taxa
- BooceriniSimilar Centrotinae tribe distinguished by presence of hair-like setae on the of the second pair of legs and different male genital capsule structure (top tip and lower lobes of sides)
- MonobeliniCaribbean tribe with some morphological convergence in valvulae structure, but differs in forewing venation and male genitalia
- NessorhininiCaribbean tribe with superficial similarity in thoracic segment exposure and valvulae teeth, but distinct in forewing arrangement
More Details
Taxonomic context
Platycentrini belongs to Centrotinae, the most primitive of Membracidae and the only subfamily occurring in both the Old and New Worlds. All other membracid subfamilies are restricted to the New World. The New World radiation of Membracidae began during Tertiary isolation approximately 65 million years ago after South America separated from Africa.
Representative genera
The tribe includes Platycentrus (established by Stål, with such as P. acuticornis, P. obtusicornis, and P. brevicornis) and Tylocentrus (including T. reticulatus).