Fulgoromorpha

Definition

An infraorder of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha (order Hemiptera) comprising the planthoppers, a diverse group of more than 12,500 described species of phloem-feeding insects. Members are distinguished from other auchenorrhynchans by two diagnostic wing and antennal characters: a bifurcate (Y-shaped) anal vein in the forewing and thickened, three-segmented antennae with a rounded or egg-shaped pedicel bearing a filamentous arista. The group includes twenty extant families (e.g., Delphacidae, Flatidae, Fulgoridae, Cixiidae) classified in the superfamily Fulgoroidea, plus two extinct superfamilies.

Etymology

From Fulgora (type genus of family Fulgoridae, from Latin fulgor 'flash, lightning') + Greek -morpha 'form, shape'

Example

The lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (family Fulgoridae) and the rice pest Nilaparvata lugens (family Delphacidae) are both members of Fulgoromorpha.

Related Terms

• Auchenorrhyncha
• Cicadomorpha
• Hemiptera
• planthopper
• Fulgoroidea
• Delphacidae
• Flatidae
• phloem feeder

Usage Notes

Sometimes treated as a superfamily (Fulgoroidea) in older literature; modern systems consistently recognize Fulgoromorpha as an infraorder. The common name 'planthopper' is often applied to the entire group, though some families (e.g., Flatidae) are called 'flatid planthoppers' and others have specialized common names. Distinguished from Cicadomorpha (leafhoppers, treehoppers, cicadas) by the antennal and wing-venation characters noted above.