Hidden but unearthed: an unusual new genus and three new species for the planthopper family Nogodinidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from Early Miocene Mexican amber, with a key to New World Nogodinini

Abstract Nogodinidae is a moderately small and cosmopolitan family of planthoppers with most species inhabiting tropical zones. Under Nogodinini, the subtribe Nogodinina comprises 14 species (11 extant and three fossils) with primary distribution to the New World humid forests. Herein, a new planthopper genus and three new species, Pauchus loisae Iscavel and Pinedo-Escatel, P. tsakal Iscavel and Pinedo-Escatel, and P. nensak Iscavel and Pinedo-Escatel from Mexican Early Miocene amber are described, imaged, and illustrated. Pauchus n. gen. can be distinguished from other fossil and extant Nogodinina genera by the following combination of characters: (1) subparallel markings in the frons that converge towards the clypeus, (2) tegmina with reduced ScP+R(+MA) vein shorter than any living or extinct taxa, (3) a transverse vein from MP to CuA splitting the median cell, and (4) five lateral spines on hind tibia. Dichotomous keys to all species of the new Nogodinid genus and to distinguish it from other New World Nogodinini genera are provided. Morphological similarities exhibited by the new taxa to other members of the tribe are also discussed. UUID: http://zoobank.org/6a9d51de-4cb8-4099-84d0-bd2f77089adb