Sternorrhyncha
- Pronunciation
- /ster-noh-RING-kuh/
- Category
- Taxonomy
Definition
A suborder of (true ) comprising small, soft-bodied, plant-feeding insects with positioned on the of the . The group includes (), (), insects (), or (), and phylloxerans (Phylloxeroidea). Historically classified within the obsolete suborder , Sternorrhyncha is now recognized as a distinct lineage based on molecular , characterized by reduced wing venation, complex often involving and , and the frequent production of honeydew that supports trophic interactions with and sooty molds.
Full guide
Read the full Sternorrhyncha guide for identification, examples, and taxonomy.
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek sternon (breast, chest) + rhynchos (snout, beak), referring to the placement of the rostrum relative to the capsule
Example
The woolly apple (Eriosoma lanigerum), a sternorrhynchan pest, alternates between apple roots and aerial shoots, producing dense colonies of wax-covered individuals that can graft unions and transmit plant viruses; its control often requires targeting the elm due to the complex typical of many aphids in this suborder.
Related Terms
- Hemiptera
- Auchenorrhyncha
- Coleorrhyncha
- Heteroptera
- Homoptera
- aphid
- whitefly
- scale insect
- psyllid
- phylloxera
- cornicle
- stylet
- Parthenogenesis
- honeydew
- Sooty mold
Usage Notes
The suborder is monophyletic and well-supported by molecular data, though relationships among its constituent superfamilies remain under study. The name refers specifically to the , position of the mouthparts—contrasting with (, , ), where mouthparts are more . Sternorrhyncha are frequently treated together in applied entomology due to shared pest management challenges: small size, rapid , tendency to develop resistance, and role as of plant . The obsolete term should be avoided in modern , though it persists in older literature and some agricultural contexts.