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This study presents the morphology of calcar in adult Delphacidae based on representatives of the genera Ugyops Guérin-Meneville, 1834, Notuchus Fennah, 1969 (Ugyopini), Asiraca Latreille, 1798 (Asiracini), Kelisia Fieber, 1866, (Kelisini), Stenocranus Fieber, 1866 (Stenocranini), Chloriona Fieber, 1866, Megadelphax Wagner, 1963, Muellerianella Wagner, 1963, Javesella Fennah, 1963, Conomelus Fieber, 1866, Euconomelus Haupt, 1929, Hyledelphax Vilbaste, 1968, Stiroma Fieber, 1866, Struebingianella Wagner, 1963 and Xanthodelphax Wagner, 1963 (Delphacini). We used SEM electron microscopy, to define seven types of calcar structure (Types 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) based on combinations of characters including shape, number of teeth and differentiation of sensory structures in species from fifteen genera. Additionally, two other types (Types 3 and 4) were determined based on the calcar descriptions from previous studies. Similarities and differences in calcar structure and function were discussed and emerging relationships between planthopper species and their particular habitats were indicated.

An annotated checklist of the 128 delphacid planthopper species of Florida, including host data, is presented based on combined specimen and literature records. The list includes 39 genera with 7 new combinations, 6 new synonymies, 3 new species and 16 new state records. The new genus Meristopsis (Delphacini) is here described with 2 new species, M. rhamphis and M. melanosteptos. Muellerianella meadi sp. nov. is also described.

Muellerianella fairmairei (Perris, 1857) Delphax fairmairei Perris, 1857: 170 Calligypona fairmairei; Lindberg, 1961: 62 Distribution. Palaearctic including Azores and Madeira archipelagoes. MADEIRA: common at various altitudes on northern and southern slopes (Lindberg, 1961). Habitat and food plants. Unknown., Published as part of Aguin-Pombo, Dora & Freitas, Carlos, 2008, An annotated check list of the Cicadomorpha and Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera) of the Madeira and Salvages archipelagos, pp. 1-28 in Zootaxa 1762 on page 22, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181963, {"references":["Lindberg, H. (1961) Hemiptera Insularum Madeirensium. Commentationes Biologicae, 24 (1), 1 - 82."]}

Crosses were made between three closely related species of the planthopper genus Muellerianella, M. brevipennis, M. extrusa and M. fairmairei. Most hybrids are produced in crosses between M. extrusa and M. fairmairei. Most of the hybrid females in these crosses and some of the hybrid males are fertile and can be successfully backcrossed with the parental species. Crosses of M. brevipennis with either M. fairmairei or M. extrusa yield less progeny, of which all males are sterile. Backcrosses of the hybrid females with the parental species are partly successful. The possible evolutionary consequences of mating readiness and interfertility between the three species under field conditions are discussed. Efforts to resynthesize triploid gynogenetic forms by backcrossing hybrid females of M. fairmairei and M. brevipennis with males of M. fairmairei, as was reported by Drosopoulos (Evolution 32: 916–920, 1978), failed. To produce offspring, the existing gynogenetic forms have to mate with males of one of the three bisexual species.