Hidden diversity in Neoaliturus, two cases of intergrative taxonomy
Neoaliturus albilacustris (© Gernot Kunz)

Hidden diversity in Neoaliturus, two cases of intergrative taxonomy

Two recent papers shed light on the genus Neoaliturus Distant, 1918. In 2021, T.Y. Tishechkin reviewed the taxonomy of the Neoaliturus fenestratus group, describing several new species from Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In 2025, G. Sinaiko and C.H. Dietrich published an integrative revision of the Neoaliturus tenellus group, describing new species and elevating two subspecies from the Mediterranean region to the species level.

Neoaliturus fenestratus species group

The Neoaliturus fenestratus species group from Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia was reviewed in 2021 by D.Y. Tishechkin. In the study area, eight species were identified based on acoustic and morphological characteristics. Besides the two new species of Neoaliturus for the West Palearctic region, D.Y. Tishechkin cleared up the taxonomic identity of Neoaliturus guttulatus, which could be widespread in large parts of Europe, although its true distribution area remains unknown to date.

New species from the Western Palearctic:

  • Neoaliturus albilacustris Tishechkin, 2021 - Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia (new species)
  • Neoaliturus translucens Tishechkin, 2021 - Iran (new species)

Neoaliturus tenellus species group

The Beet leafhopper (Neoaliturus tenellus) was originally described from North America, although the species is native to the Mediterranean region. Several strikingly similar species, which are closely related to Neoaliturus tenellus have been described in the past. In 2025, G. Sinaiko and C.H. Dietrich unravelled the taxonomy of the Neoaliturus tenellus group, which resulted in two species being elevated to species level and the description of three new species. Likely, a close study of Neoaliturus tenellus specimens in the Mediterranean area will expand the distribution range of all species whose identity has been cleared now.

New species and species with new status from the Western Palearctic:

  • Neoaliturus acuminatus Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2025 - Israel (new species)
  • Neoaliturus ambiguosus (Young & Frazier, 1954)- Israel, Palestine, Spain (new status)
  • Neoaliturus infirmus (Young & Frazier, 1954) - Algeria, Israel, Libya, Palestine (new status)
  • Neoaliturus ozitalia Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2025 - Israel (new species)
  • Neoaliturus robustostylus Sinaiko & Dietrich, 2025 - Israel, Palestine (new species)

 

References
  • Sinaiko, G. & Dietrich, C.H. (2025). Untangling the Beet Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) species complex: a case study in integrative taxonomy. Insect Systematics and Diversity 9(3): 32 pp.
  • Tishechkin, T.Y. (2021). Review of the Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1834) species group (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Opsiini) from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia. Zootaxa 5039(2): 201-221.
  • Tishechkin, D.Y. (2022). New and interesting records of Auchenorrhyncha (Homoptera) in European Russia. Russian Entomological Journal 31(3): 234-248.
     

By Marco de Haas

Updated 4 June 2025 20:03 GTM