Zeugma (planthopper)

Zeugma is a small genus of planthoppers from the family Derbidae, tribe Zoraidini, currently (2024) with 9 species. The distribution of the species is restricted to western and central parts of Indonesia, as well as to tropical parts of southern Asia, mainly in and around Malaysia, southern Thailand and southern Cambodia. However, some species are also found in the Philippines, Taiwan and in Assam (India). The species of the genus Zeugma differ from the typical genera in the tribe Zoraidini by a number of unusual features. They lack the long and narrow forewings and the very short hindwings. In addition, the media vein on the forewing has more than 6 branches. These characters are found among genera in the tribe Derbini, to where Zeugma was assigned before the 1950s. The genus was transferred to the Zoraidini by Fennah, mainly based on the venation of the forewings, specifically that of the cubitus and the clavus. Further, when at rest, the live insects do not raise their wings above the body like in most other species of the tribe Zoraidini, but hold them in a roof-like position. Because of these atypical features, the genus Zeugma is placed in a separate subtribe. The colouration of the body is typically straw-coloured to light brown with some parts dark brown, reddish, black or sometimes yellowish. The forewings are translucent, often with brown stripes, especially on or along the veins.

Type species: Zeugma vittata Westwood, 1840