A new planthopper genus, Aodingus Chen & Li gen. nov. and three new species (A. hainanensis Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov., A. obscurus Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov. and A. cuongi Chen & Li gen. et sp. nov.) are described from China and Vietnam. The new genus is superficially similar to Procidelphax Bartlett, 2009 in general appearance in that the body is strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Distinctive features of the new taxon include broadly compressed body with vertex broad, apical margin broadly rounded, middle part concave, median and submedian carinae absent, frons broad and large, wider at base than at apex, forewing broad and long, aedeagus tubular, curved ventrally. A diagnosis for all species, illustrations and an identification key of new genus are provided. A key to the Chinese genera of Tropidocephalini is also provided.

Two new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang, 1986, N. furcatasp. nov. and N. parvulasp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. A key based on the male genitalia is given to distinguish species of this genus and a map provided to show their geographic distribution. Habitus photos for adults and illustrations of male genitalia are also given.

Although many hypotheses have been proposed to understand the mechanisms underlying large-scale richness patterns, the environmental determinants are still poorly understood, particularly in insects. Here, we tested the relative contributions of seven hypotheses previously proposed to explain planthopper richness patterns in China. The richness patterns were visualized at a 1° × 1° grid size, using 14,722 distribution records for 1335 planthoppers. We used ordinary least squares and spatial error simultaneous autoregressive models to examine the relationships between richness and single environmental variables and employed model averaging to assess the environmental variable relative roles. Species richness was unevenly distributed, with high species numbers occurring in the central and southern mountainous areas. The mean annual temperature change since the Last Glacial Maximum was the most important factor for richness patterns, followed by mean annual temperature and net primary productivity. Therefore, historical climate stability, ambient energy, and productivity hypotheses were supported strongly, but orogenic processes and geological isolation may also play a vital role.

Three new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Bambusiphaga Huang & Ding, 1979, B. parvula sp. nov., B. angulosa sp. nov., and B. nigrigena sp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. A key to species of the genus is provided. Habitus photos for adults and illustrations of male genitalia are also given.

In this study, three new bamboo-feeding species of the genus Bambusiphaga Huang & Ding, 1979 (Hemiptera, Fulgoroidea, Delphacidae, Tropidocephalini), B. caudospina Lv, Li & Chen, sp. nov., B. laterospina Lv, Li & Chen, sp. nov. and B. striola Lv, Li & Chen, sp. nov. from Southwest China, are described and illustrated, bringing the total number of species in the genus to 34. An updated identification key and checklist to all known species of Bambusiphaga are provided.

Two new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang, 1986, N. biprocessa sp. nov. and N. russa sp. nov., are described and illustrated from southwest China (Hainan and Guizhou), giving the genus nine species in total. A key is provided to separate all species.