Classification of the Western Hemisphere Balclutha (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

The genus Balelutha is cosmopolitan in distribution.This paper treats 36 taxa found in the Western Hemisphere including 2 which are given new status, 4 in new combinations, and 15 new to science.Although specimens of Balclutha are commonly collected in numbers in grassy areas, some taxa are based on single specimens or very short series.The genus is placed in the subfamily Deltocephalinae.It is considered a member of the tribe Balcluthini by Oman (1949) but is placed in Macrostelini by Linnavuori (1959); the former tribal designation is followed here.There have been few taxonomic works restricted to this tribe and these have included only a portion of the Western Hemisphere.This geographical restriction and the wide distribution of certain taxa have resulted in some confusion as to the identity of a number of species and subspecies.Ecological and biological data published on Balcluthini are infrequent.The host plants are usually considered to be grasses and sedges.In this study, the internal male genitalia were dissected using techniques described by Oman (1949) and Young (1952).