Genus Patara Westwood, 1840

[Back to North American Derbidae]

Family Derbidae Spinola 1839

Subfamily Otiocerinae Muir, 1917

Tribe Patarini Emeljanov, 1995

Genus: Patara Westwood, 1840: 85.

Type species: (in original combination): Patara gutata Westwood, 1840.

Synonyms

• Petata, missp. by Procter 1946: 95.

Distribution

One species in the eastern U.S., but the genus is represented by 12 additional species widespread in the Caribbean and Central America.  There are also a series of Afrotropical species described into this genus (some subsequently moved into Synavea).

Recognized species

Nearctic and Neotropical species

There are 14 species and 1 subspecies in the New World and 11 species in Africa currently placed in this genus [see Metcalf 1945: 96]. There may be a large number of undescribed species, and possibly related genera, in the Neotropics.

1. Patara albida Westwood, 1840: 479 – St. Vincent (recently reported from Florida [pdf]).
2. Patara cooki Bahder & Bartlett, 2021 – Barbuda
3. Patara cyanea Fennah 1952: 147 – Dominica
4. Patara fumipennis Fennah 1952: 148 – St. Lucia
5. Patara gausapata Fennah 1952: 149 – St. Vincent
6. Patara guttata Westwood, 1840: 478 – St. Vincent
7. Patara inermis Fennah 1952: 149 – St. Lucia
8. Patara marmorata Fowler, 1904: 79 – Guatemala, Mexico
9. Patara mimula Fennah 1952: 148 – Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat.
10. Patara mimula unicornis Fennah 1952: 148 – St. Lucia
11. Patara pakaraima Fennah 1952: 150 – Guyana
12. Patara poeciloptera Fennah 1945: 448 – Trinidad
13. Patara trigona Fennah 1945: 447 (see plate 10)- Trinidad
14. Patara vanduzei Ball, 1902b: 260 (sometimes misspelled Patara vanduzeei) – USA: AL, DE, GA, IL, MD, ME, MO, NC, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN; CAN: ON, QB   (Bugguide adds IO, MA, NH; iNaturalist adds MI, NJ, VA, WV)
15. Patara vittatipennis Fennah 1945: 448 – Trinidad

Afrotropical species

1. Patara appendiculata Van Stalle, 1982 – Cameroon (Mt. Cameroon)
2. Patara armata Van Stalle, 1984 – Nigeria
3. Patara complanata Van Stalle, 1986 – Ivory Coast
4. Patara eloeidis Muir, 1930 – Sierra Leone
5. Patara leopoldi Van Stalle, 1982 – Cameroon (Mt. Cameroon)
6. Patara mambilae Van Stalle, 1984 – Nigeria
7. Patara ovata Van Stalle, 1984 – Nigeria
8. Patara quadrispinosa Synave, 1979 – Nigeria
9. Patara taiensis Van Stalle, 1986 – Ivory Coast
10. Patara tuberculata Van Stalle, 1984 – Nigeria
11. Patara unimaculata Van Stalle, 1982 – Cameroon (Mt. Cameroon)

Note:  Emeljanov (1995) transferred some African species of Patera to the new genera Synavea Emeljanov 1995 and Anapatara Emeljanov 1995, as follows:

• Synavea albibaltea (Van Stalle, 1986) – Ivory Coast
• Synavea apicemaculata (Synave, 1971) (type species)
• Synavea chambeziensis (Wilson, 1987) – Tanzania
• Synavea compaginata (Van Stalle, 1986) – Ivory Coast
• Synavea hargreavesi (Muir 1930) – Sierra Leone
• Synavea hyalina (Synave, 1979) – Nigeria
• Synavea minazi (Wilson, 1987) – Tanzania
• Synavea pattersoni (Muir, 1918) – Gold Coast
• Synavea pusilla (Van Stalle, 1984) – Nigeria
• Synavea radiata (Synave, 1979) – Nigeria
• Synavea recurvata (Van Stalle, 1984) – Nigeria
• Synavea rusticola (Van Stalle, 1984) – Nigeria
• Anapatara acantha (Van Stalle, 1986) – Ivory Coast
• Anapatara costalis (Synave, 1979) – Nigeria
• Anapatara kivuensis (Synave, 1973)
• Anapatara lootensi (Synave, 1973)
• Anapatara monstruosa (Synave, 1979) – Nigeria
• Anapatara nigeriensis (Synave, 1971) (type species)
• Anapatara trispinosa (Synave, 1979) – Nigeria

Economic Importance

Limited, although Patara cooki was associated with coconut palm.

Plant associations

Derbidae are known or assumed to feed on fungal hyphae as immatures.  The significance of adult host associations is unclear. Hosts from Wilson et al. 1994; plant names from USDA PLANTS or Tropicos.

• Patara albida – Inga vera Willd. (river koko, Fabaceae); recovered from Pouteria Aubl. and Rheedia brasiliensis (Mart.) Planch. & Triana in Florida
• Patara cooki  – Coconut palm (Arecaceae, Cocos nucifera L.)
• Patara eloeidis  – Elaeis guineensis L. (Arecaceae, African oil palm)

Recognition

Small, fragile forms (5 mm or less); sexually dimorphic; wings greatly exceeding  abdomen, frons extremely compressed, antennae lacking appendages, head only slightly projecting in front of eyes (less than diameter of eye), clavus closed, second antennal segment flattened, longer than width of head across eyes, male antennae longer than those of female.

Description (this out of Westwood 1841: 448)

Patara. Rostrum ad basin pedum posticorum extensum. Oculi maximi, subtus emarginati. Oculi obsoleti. Antennae maximae, compressae, verrucosae, apice subtruncato et setigero. Alae anticae longitudine mediocres, apice rotundatae, venis paucis cellulisque tribus discoidalibus.

Description from Fennah 1945: 447.

Vertex small, triangular; frons very narrow, margins contiguous to near apex; vertex and frons in profile forming a curve; genae devoid of a subantennal process; antennae reaching beyond apex of head, second segment large, cylindrical, not compressed. Small, delicate species, exhibiting sexual dimorphism in the second segment of the antennae.

A brief description of Patra albida from Caldwell & Martorell 1951:

Length 3-3.6 mm. General color white with light fuscous marking. Eyes, margins of antenna, and spot on head anterior to eyes fuscous. Fore wing smoky subapically and in claval area; often with cross veins fuscous; eight reel dashes present around apical margin. Male style greatly produced dorsoapically, lobate in lateral aspect; with a median T -shaped process present on dorsal margin; inner margin with subapically triangular projection. Aedeagus with bifid process on right, and a short process on apical left.

Features of Tribe and key to genera within tribe by Banaszkiewicz and Szwedo, 2005 (based on African taxa):

Patarini Emeljanov, 1994
Diagnostic characters. Frons linear, strongly bilaterally compressed, its lateral crests shifted together and divided only by groove. Frons and vertex without sensory pits. Vertex triangular. Antennae with enlarged 2nd segment, often robust and strongly extended, larger in males. Compound eyes with distinctly concave ventral margin, against bases of antennae. Ocelli present or absent. Subantennal shelf present in different forms or absent. Postclypeus convex, with weak lateral crests, but without any specifics structures. Pronotum short, with indistinct median and humeral carinae, but without apecific structures, i.e., pronotal funnel not developed. Mesonotum large, usually convex, without distinct carinae. Tegmen with clavus closed; stem of ScR with a few sensory tubercular spots; RP with 2 terminals; M with 4 terminals; CuA not forked, without anterior cubital area, reaching posterior margin of tegmen or falling to posterior branch of M; Pcu completely densely convered with tubercular sensory spots. Wings without nodal vein; stridulatory plate developed, with convex outer margin. Hind tibia without lateral teeth, apex with even row of 6 teeth, apices of hind tarsomeres 1st and 2nd with 5–6 teeth each.

Key to genera
1(2). Tegmen with first branching of vein M beginning more distally than adjacent submarginal transverse veinlet r-m; transverse veinlet m-cu usually connecting both stems, basad of M first branching … Patara Westwood, 1840 [Type species Patara guttata Westwood, 1840; by original designation]

2(1). Tegmen with first branching of vein M beginning more proximally than adjacent submarginal transverse veinlet r-m … Anapatara Emeljanov, 1994 [Type species Patara nigeriensis Synave, 1971; by original designation (Emeljanov 1994: 801)]

Online resources

Patara on Bugguide. Patara at Cedar Creek. Patara at Encyclopedia of Life.  Patara at Discover Life.

3i.
EOL.
Bugguide.
Discover Life.
FLOW.
Hoppers of North Carolina.
Kunzweb Gallery. (link to Derbidae)
American Insects. (link to Derbidae)
BOLD.

Collecting

Occasionally found at lights or sweeping; also found in malaise traps. Saw one today (20 Oct. 2018) just standing on my car. It got away – I am not sure how; was unhappy about it – don’t see them very often.

Molecular resources

There is a data for 3 species Patara on Genbank; Barcode of Life has data for Patara vanduzei and P. guttata.

Selected references

Bahder, B. W., J. Gore-Francis & C.R. Bartlett. 2021. A new species of planthopper in the genus Patara (Hemiptera: Derbidae) on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) from the island of Barbuda. Zootaxa 4941(3): 369-380.

Ball, E. D. 1902b. New genera and species of North American Fulgoridae. Canadian Entomologist 34: 259-266.

Ball, E. D. 1928. Some new genera and species of N. A. Derbidae with notes on others (Fulgoridae). Canadian Entomologist 60: 196-201.

Bartlett, C. R., E. R. Adams and A. T. Gonzon. 2011. Planthoppers of Delaware (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea), excluding Delphacidae, with species incidence from adjacent States. ZooKeys 83: 1-42.

Bartlett, C. R., L. B. O’Brien and S. W. Wilson. 2014. A review of the planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 50: 1-287.

Banaszkiewicz. M. and J. Szwedo. 2005. Notes on Otiocerinae with description of a new tribe from Madagascar and Africa (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Derbidae). Annales Zoologici 55(2): 223-241.

Benton, E. P. and J. W. McCreadie. 2009. A preliminary survey of the planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) of coastal Alabama. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 111: 354-360.

Caldwell, J. S. and L. F. Martorell. 1951 [dated1950]. Review of the Auchenorynchous [sic] Homoptera of Puerto Rico. Part II. The Fulgoroidea except Kinnaridae. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico 34(2): 133-269.

Dozier, H. L. 1928a [dated 1922 or 1926]. The Fulgoridae or planthoppers of Mississippi, including those of possible occurrence. Technical Bulletin of the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station 14: 1-152.

Emeljanov, A. F. 1996. On the system and phylogeny of the family Derbidae (Homoptera, Cicadina). Entomological Review 75: 70-100). (Translation of Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie 1995, 73: 783-811, Russian summary 946-947).

Fennah, R. G. 1945. The Fulgoroidea, or lanternflies, of Trinidad and adjacent parts of South America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 95(3184): 411-520.

Fennah, R. G. 1952. On the generic classification of Derbidae (Fulgoroidea), with descriptions of new Neotropical species. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 103(4): 109-170.

Fowler, W. W. 1904. Order Rhynchota. Suborder Hemiptera-Homoptera. (Continued). Biologia Centrali-Americana 1: 57-76, 77-84.

Gonzon, A. T., Jr., C. R. Bartlett and J. L. Bowman. 2007 (dated 2006). Planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) diversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 132: 243-260.

Halbert, S. 2005. Tri-ology. Entomology Section 44(4): 5-9. [Patara albida reported from Florida]

Kirby, W. F. 1821. The characters of Otiocerus and Anotia, two new genera of Hemipterous insects belonging to the family of Cicadiadae : with a description of several species. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London (Second series) Zoology 13: 12-23.

Maw, H.E.L., R. G. Foottit and K.G.A. Hamilton. 2000. Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska, NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Canada.

McAtee, W. L. 1923a. A new species of Otiocerus (Homoptera; Fulgoridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 36: 45-48.

Metcalf, Z. P. 1923. A key to the Fulgoridae of eastern North America with descriptions of new species. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 38(3): 139-230, plus 32 plates. [available from http://www.lib.unc.edu/dc/jncas/]

Metcalf, Z. P. 1945. General Catalogue of the Hemiptera. Fascicle IV, Fulgoroidea, Part 4, Derbidae. Smith College, Northhampton, Massachusetts. (p. 96)

Moore, G. A. 1950a. Catalogus des hémiptères de la province de Québec. Le Naturaliste Canadien 77: 233-271.

Moore, G. A. 1950b. Check-list of Hemiptera of the province of Quebec. Contributions de l’Institut de Biologie de l’Université de Montréal. 26: 1-49.

Muir, F.A.G. 1917. The Derbidae of the Philippine Islands. Philippine Journal of Science 12: 49-105.

Muir, F.A.G. 1913. On some new species of leafhoppers. Part II. Derbidae. Bulletin. Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association Experiment Station. Division of Entomology 12: 28-92.

Muir, F.A.G. 1917. The Derbidae of the Philippine Islands. Philippine Journal of Science 12: 49-105.

Muir, F.A.G. 1918. Notes on the Derbidae in the British Musuem collection. — II. Derbinae. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 54: 228-243.

Muir, F.A.G. 1930. New Derbidae from Sierra Leone (Homoptera Fulgoroidea). Annals and Magazine of Natural History. London. (Ser. 10) 5: 81-84.

O’Brien, L. B. 1982b. Two Neotropical derbid genera with observations on wing rolling (Fulgoroidea: Homoptera). Florida Entomologist 65: 306-321.

Procter, W. 1946. The insect fauna with references to methods of capture, food plants, the flora and other biological features. In: Biological survey of the Mount Desert Region [Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. Salisbury Cove, Maine]. Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia. 7: 1-566.

Spinola, M. 1839a. Essai sur les Fulgorelles, sous-tribu de la tribu des Cicadaires, ordre des Rhyngotes. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 8: 133-337.

Synave, H. 1971. Contribution à la connaissance des Fulgorides du Nigeria (Homoptera) (recoltes J. T. Medler). Bulletin de l’Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 47: 1-34.

Synave, H. 1973. Monographie des Derbidae Africains (Homoptera-Fulgoroidea). Etudes du Continent Africain[OR Etudes et Contributions Africaines] 2: 1-223.

Synave, H. 1979. Description d’espèces nouvelles appartenant aux familles: Cercopidae, Cixiidae, Derbidae, Dictyopharidae et Tropiduchidae (Homoptera). Bulletin du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. Bruxelles 51(6): 1-31.

Synave, H. 1982. Un nouveau Derbidae Africain (Hom.). Bulletin de la Societé Entomologique de France 87(1-2): 48-49.

Van Stalle, J. 1982. Scientific results of the Belgian Mount-Cameroon expedition (February-April 1981). III. Fam. Cixiidae, Derbidae, Meenoplidae, Dictyopharidae, Achilidae, Lophopidae and Tettigometridae (Homoptera – Fulgoroidea). Bulletin du Musée Royal d’Histoire Naturelle de Belgique. Bruxelles 54(6): 1-18.

Van Stalle, J. 1983. Description of four new African Derbidae and Cixiidae (Homoptera, Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea). Reichenbachia 21 (27): 157-160.

Van Stalle, J. 1984. New and interesting African Derbidae (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea). Bulletin de l’Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique 55(1): 1-61.

Van Stalle, J. 1986. Les Derbides de la Forêt de Taï (Côte D’Ivoire), Tribus Cenchreini et Otiocerini Description de dix-neuf espècies nouvelles (Homoptera, Fulgoromorpha). Revue Française d’Entomologie. Paris 7(5): 241-255.

Westwood, J. O. 1840d. Observations on the genus Derbe of Fabricius. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 1: 82-85.

Westwood, J. O. 1841d. Observations on the genus Derbe of Fabricius. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6: 477-479.

Wilson, M. R. 1987 African Derbidae (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea): taxonomic notes with descriptions of new species collected mainly from coconut. Journal of Natural History 21(3): 567-595.

Wilson, S. W. and J. E. McPherson. 1980a. Keys to the planthoppers, or Fulgoroidea, of Illinois (Homoptera). Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science 73(2): 1‑61.

Wilson, S. W. and J. E. McPherson. 1980b. The distribution of the Fulgoroidea of the eastern United States (Homoptera). Transactions of the Illinois Academy of Science 73(4): 7‑20.

Wilson, S. W. and J. E. McPherson. 1980c. A list of the Fulgoroidea (Homoptera) of southern Illinois. Great Lakes Entomologist 13(1): 25-30.

Wilson, S. W., C. Mitter, R. F. Denno and M. R. Wilson. 1994. Evolutionary patterns of host plant use by delphacid planthoppers and their relatives. In: R. F. Denno and T. J. Perfect (eds.). Planthoppers: Their Ecology and Management. Chapman and Hall, New York. Pp. 7-45 & Appendix.