Review of the leafhopper tribe Macrostelini (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from Pakistan with new country records

The tribe Macrostelini Kirkaldy (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) currently includes 12 extant described species in Pakistan, including two new country records. These leafhopper species are associated with herbaceous plants, particularly inhabiting grasslands and occasionally cultivated areas with significant economic value as primary vectors of viruses and phytoplasmas. This study revised the taxonomy, altitudinal diversity, and distribution of Macrostelini species present throughout the various ecological zones in Pakistan. Macrosteles quadripunctulatus (Kirschbaum, 1868) and Macrosteles nabiae Kwon, 2013, are reported for the first time in Pakistan, thereby extending the known geographical range of these important vectors. The review includes detailed morphological descriptions, diagnostic characteristics and identification key for the males of the newly recorded species, supplemented by high-resolution images showcasing essential taxonomic features. The analysis of altitudinal distribution patterns across Pakistan’s varied topography reveals species-specific ecological preferences, which range from lowland agricultural regions to mountain areas. An updated checklist of Macrostelini tribe has been documented, serving as a foundational reference for future biosystematics research, agricultural pest management initiatives, and phytoplasma disease monitoring programmes.