Cixiid planthoppers have been shown to vector phloem-limited prokaryotes associated with plant diseases world-wide. In eastern France, an emerging disease of sugar beet called syndrome "basses richesses" has been associated with phloem-restricted bacteria transmitted by a cixiid planthopper within the genus Pentastiridius. Early investigation suggested the species being Pentastiridius beieri. On the basis of a morphological and phylogenetic study we report the identification of the planthopper as Pentastiridius leporinus. Furthermore we report some biological traits of the species, which shows a surprising ecological adaptation to an annual cropping rotation sugar beet-winter cereals.
First descriptions of males of Peltonotellus raniformis (Mulsant & Rey, 1855), P. melichari Horváth, 1897 and Ordalonema faciepilosa Dlabola, 1980 are given. In addition, identification keys to the eight Caliscelidae genera of the Western Palaearctic and to the five Peltonotellus Puton, 1886 species of Europe are presented.