The leafhopper species, Mukaria splendida Distant, is economically important due to itsstatus as a pest on bamboo and was recently reported to bea vector for phytoplasmal disease. Morphological identification is often difficult and requires a high level of taxonomic expertise, with misidentifications causing problematic false-positive/negative results. In this paper, colour polymorphism was recorded in the bamboo-feedingleafhopper M. splendida (Distant, 1908), which is a major insect pest in the bamboo ecosystem based on explorations conducted in different locations of India. Ten morphs were identified for each sex of M. splendida Distant based on the colour pattern on the pronotum and forewings. However, in view of the economic importance of the species, the morphological studies were integrated with the molecular data for the accurate identification of the species. The morphological characteristics and sequence results of the amplified product of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene confirmed that all the morphs were M. splendida and the pairwise distance matrix showed a negligible genetic distance in the COI mtDNA gene. Simulated future predictions, along with detailed notes on the colour polymorphic forms with illustrations, and additional distribution records as well as thebiology of M. splendida were discussed in light of the available literature, all of which will aid the authentic identification of this species.

A new leafhopper species, Mukariella viraktamathi sp. nov., is described from India along with a distinct morphological variant. Illustrations of males and female are provided. An annotated species checklist of the genus and key to species of the genus Mukariella are also provided.

A new genus of bamboo feeding leafhopper, Bambuphaga n. gen. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Delcephalinae) with Bambuphaga balajii n. sp. from India (Andhra Pradesh) as the type species is described, illustrated, placed in the tribe Punctulini and an annotated checklist to the tribe is provided. The type specimens and material examined are deposited in the National Pusa Collection (NPC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India.

A new bamboo leafhopper species, Myittana (Myittana) bidentata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from India (Pantnagar, Uttarakhand). The new species is similar to Myittana (Myittana) distincta but can be distinguished by its large size (7.8 mm long) and the male genital structure. An annotated species checklist of the genus and key to species of the subgenus Myittana (Myittana) are also provided.

Four species of Spodoptera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) viz., S. litura (F.), S. mauritia Boisduval, S. exigua (Hub.) and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith) were reared on castor, rice, chickpea and on artificial diet, respectively under laboratory conditions during 2017–2019 at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The observations on the geometrics of growth in terms of width of head capsule (widest head width) confirming to Dyar's law were made. In S. litura the linear growth ratio was 1.45 confirming a regular geometrical progression in the consecutive larval instars. In S. mauritia and S. frugiperda it was 1.62 and 1.94, respectively; but in S. exigua it was observed to vary as 1.41 (between 1^st and 2^nd instars), 2.61 (2^nd and 3^rd instars), 1.05 (3^rd and 4^th instars) and 1.64 (4^th and 5^th), with a mean of 1.68, and slightly deviating from Dyar's law. In specific, it was of the ratio of 2.61 between 2^nd and 3^rd instars showing the maximum progression factor, and confirming the variation among the four species evaluated.