Two new species of Machaerotidae from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with some additional records of the family (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea)

Researchers have identified two new species of the rare Machaerotidae family, Labramachaerota luilaka and Labramachaerota salonga, within Salonga National Park and its buffer zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These discoveries expand the known diversity of this paleotropical insect group, which is poorly documented in Africa. The study also records two additional species, Enderleinia bispina and Neuromachaerota discigutta, for the first time in the region. The findings highlight the ecological significance of Salonga National Park as a biodiversity hotspot, particularly within the Congo Basin. The research combines morphological analysis with field observations to document these new taxa, contributing critical data to our understanding of Hemiptera diversity and distribution.

HAAS, M. C. D., & MERTENS, J. E. J. (2024). Two new species of Machaerotidae from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with some additional records of the family (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea). Zootaxa, 5433(4), 546–558. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5433.4.4