Review of the Triassic Curvicubitidae (Insecta: Hemiptera), with Description of New Material from China

Abstract

The Curvicubitidae is a Triassic cicada family with some taxa systematically debatable. Here a new curvicubitid species, Beaconiella tongchuanensis sp. nov., is established from the Middle Triassic Tongchuan Entomofauna in NW China. Restudy of the two Australian species of Beaconiella Evans, 1963 (B. fennahi and B. multivenata) confirms that they are different species and first reveals the hindwing venation of B. multivenata. A detailed restudy of Curvicubitus triassicus Hong, 1984 confirms the treatment of Curvicubitus as a junior synonym of Beaconiella. A key to all the six species of Beaconiella in Curvicubitidae is first given. Although reported from only three sites, the family Curvicubitidae potentially was globally distributed during the Middle–Late Triassic, implying that this family probably originated as early as the Early Triassic or even the Permian.