Cercopoidea

Definition

A superfamily of hemipteran insects in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha, comprising the froghoppers and spittlebugs. Adults are characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping, while nymphs of many species produce protective foam masses ('spittle') from plant sap. The group includes approximately 3,000 described species in six extant families: Aphrophoridae, Cercopidae, Clastopteridae, Epipygidae, Machaerotidae, and the recently recognized families derived from former subfamily groupings.

Etymology

From Cercopis (type genus) + -oidea (superfamily suffix)

Example

The meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (family Aphrophoridae) is a cercopoid of economic importance as a vector of the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa.

Synonyms

• froghoppers
• spittlebugs (common names for members)

Related Terms

• Auchenorrhyncha
• Hemiptera
• Aphrophoridae
• Cercopidae
• spittle
• xylem-feeding

Usage Notes

Used as a proper noun with capital C; refers specifically to the superfamily rank. The common names 'froghopper' (emphasizing jumping adults) and 'spittlebug' (emphasizing nymphal foam) are applied somewhat interchangeably across families, though 'spittlebug' is more common in North America and 'froghopper' in Europe. Formerly included additional families now placed elsewhere; current circumscription reflects molecular phylogenetic revisions.