Leafhopper species identification
Specimens were sorted to morphospecies and tentatively identified by the
last author prior to DNA extraction, with species identifications
confirmed following non-destructive DNA extraction through examination
of male genitalia. Exoskeletons of extracted specimens were saved as
vouchers and deposited in the Illinois Natural History Survey insect
collection. After the initial screening all the specimens that tested
positive for the presence of phytoplasmas were identified by using
published taxonomic keys and related literature (Emeljanov, 1967;
Fletcher, 2000; Stiller, 2010; Zahniser, 2008). One of them was a new
species for science and was recently described by the last author
(Dietrich, in review). The abdomens of voucher specimens (males) were
dissected to study the genitalia under an Olympus SZX10 stereoscopic
microscope. Habitus photographs of voucher specimens were taken at INHS
with a Canon SLR camera and 65 mm macro lens mounted on an automated
lift.