Dictyopharidae

Definition

A family of planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) comprising approximately 760 species in more than 150 genera, divided into two subfamilies: Dictyopharinae and Orgeriinae. Members are distinguished by their elongated, often bizarrely modified heads and are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions where they feed on plant phloem sap.

Etymology

From Greek diktyon (net) + pharos (head covering), referring to the reticulate or net-like head structure characteristic of many species.

Example

The bizarre-headed planthopper Phylloscelis atra (Orgeriinae) exhibits the extreme cranial elongation typical of Dictyopharidae, with its head extended forward into a slender, leaf-like process that aids in camouflage among grasses.

Related Terms

• Fulgoridae
• planthopper
• Fulgoromorpha
• Hemiptera
• phloem feeder
• Orgeriinae
• Dictyopharinae

Usage Notes

Distinguished from the related family Fulgoridae by head morphology and wing venation; formerly treated as a subfamily of Fulgoridae in older classifications. The family is most diverse in the Old World tropics, with Orgeriinae containing many grassland and prairie specialists.