Recent additions to the British List Since the publication of the last UK Auchenorrhyncha checklist (Le Quesne & Payne, 1981), around 30 species have been added to the British fauna. A selection of these are outlined below. The last 20 years have seen the addition of 11 species, just over half of which are probably genuinely new arrivals rather than long-overlooked residents or the result of taxonomic revisions. While many of these new arrivals have arrived unassisted, via active flight or passive drift from continental Europe, the appearance of some can be explained by the recent increase in the importation and planting of herbaceous plants and ornamental shrubs and trees from continental Europe. Species such as Eupteryx decemnotata, Fieberiella florii, Synophropsis lauri and Liguropia juniperi have become established in synanthropic habitats such as parks and gardens, particularly in the London area which has a significantly milder climate than other parts of southern Britain.

Iassus scutellaris (Fieber 1868) Discovered in Surrey in 1978, this species is now found widely across southern and central England despite its classification as Nationally Notable A. Associated with English Elm Ulmus procera and able to persist on low regrowth following dieback due to Dutch elm disease, it is similar in appearance to the common oak-feeding I. lanio but the colour of the forewings is generally a much brighter lime-green. More
Aphrodes makarovi (Zakhvatkin 1948) Previously regarded as a form of A. bicinctus, this taxon was raised to species status by Ossiannilsson (1981). A. makarovi is larger than A. bicinctus, has pale wing veins and is much more common. The male genitalia are also distinctly different. More
Viridicerus usulatus (Mulsant & Rey 1855) First recorded in Norfolk in 1991, this species is now widespread throughout much of England, Wales and as far north as Yorkshire on White Poplar Populus alba. Although Idiocerines are generally a difficult group to identify, V. ustulatus is distinctively marked and also noticeably smaller than other species in this genus. More
Fieberiella florii (Stal 1864) First recorded in 1998, this species has been found mainly in the London area on ornamental shrubs such as Photinia and other Rosaceae. It is also reported to feed on privet. More
Zyginella pulchra Low 1885 This species was discovered during 2001 in Kent, but not found subsequently until 2007, when it was recorded from multiple widely-spaced sites across southern Britain. Z. pulchra has a rather unusual phenology for a leafhopper and is most easily found during the winter, which it spends on various evergreens such as Yew Taxus baccata and Leyland Cypress x Cupressocyparis leylandii.  Adults move to Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and mate in spring, the new generation appearing in the autumn. More
Eupteryx decemnotata Rey 1891 First reported from Berkshire in 2002, this species is associated with a variety of herbaceous plants on the continent but in Britain has been mainly found on Sage Salvia officinalis. It is now probably much more widespread. More
Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee 1897) This delphacid is native to the USA where it is found in saltmarshes, feeding on Spartina alterniflora. It has recently been introduced to Britain and was first recorded in 2008 from the Hampshire coast in association with the closely related common cord-grass Spartina anglica. It has colonised suitable habitat along the south and south-east coasts of Britain with extreme rapidity and can reach very high densities. More
Liguropia juniperi (Lethierry 1876) A recent arrival to Britain, first noted in Peterborough during 2008 and since recorded from multiple sites in the south-east of England. The foodplants are ornamental cypresses, frequently planted in urban areas. More
Synophropsis lauri Horvath 1897 Similar in size and shape to Fieberiella florii, this species is native to south-eastern Europe and was introduced to Britain via imported Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis. It was first recorded from the London area in 2007 and then subsequently found more widely in south-east England and on the Channel Islands. There seem to be two generations a year and females may overwinter. More
Acericerus ribauti (Nickel & Remane 2002) Like Acericerus vittifrons, this leafhopper feeds on Acer species and can be found on Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and especially Field Maple A. campestre in southern England. A. ribauti was first recorded in 2007 but due to its similarity to A. vittifrons it is unclear whether the species is a recent colonist or has been overlooked in Britain for some time. More
Dryodurgades antoniae Melichar 1907 This distinctive member of the Agallinae is a very recent arrival in Britain, first noted at a site in south Essex during 2008 and then recorded from two sites in London a year later. The foodplant is Broom Cystisus scoparius. More
Zygina nivea Mulsant & Rey 1885 Recorded from several sites in London during 2010, this species is associated with White Poplar Populus alba and has apparently undergone recent range expansion in northern Germany (H. Nickel, pers. comm.)
Macropsis megerlei (Fieber 1868) A small and distinctive Macropsis species which is associated with Burnet Rose Rosa pimpinellifolia and is known only from a single dune system in north Wales, where it was discovered in 2010. Since this is an unlikely site for a recent colonist, this species is probably an overlooked resident and should be searched for in similar habitats elsewhere.
Acericerus heydenii (Kirschbaum 1868) This species is larger and darker than Acericerus vittifrons and A. ribauti and is associated with Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. It was found at a number of sites in southern England during 2010 and is presumably a recent arrival from the continent.
Fieberiella septentrionalis Wagner 1963 Very similar to F. florii and separable only by dissection, this species was found on a brownfield site in Yorkshire during 2010 when a number of specimens were swept from Grey Willow Salix cinerea. It seems likely that this population originated from imported landscaping materials. On the continent this species is often associated with Blackthorn Prunus spinosa.