Idiocerini

Baker, 1915

Idiocerini is a tribe of ( ) within the Eurymelinae, containing approximately 60–70 and roughly 500 . The tribe has a distribution, with significant diversity in the Nearctic, Palearctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Members are small leafhoppers, many of which are associated with woody plants and include economically significant agricultural and forest pests. The tribe was formerly treated as a subfamily but is now classified within Eurymelinae.

Idiocerus by (c) Kazimieras Martinaitis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kazimieras Martinaitis. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acericerus ribauti by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acericerus by (c) Paul Cook, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paul Cook. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Idiocerini: /ˌɪdiˌoʊsɛˈraɪnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Idiocerini can be distinguished from other Eurymelinae tribes by male genitalic characters, particularly the structure of the aedeagal shaft with paired . Additional diagnostic features include male antennal , male abdominal , and female structure. Within the tribe, are separated by capsule shape, patterns, and detailed male genitalic configurations. -level identification typically requires examination of male .

Images

Habitat

Members of Idiocerini inhabit diverse environments where their plants occur. Specific records include mountainous forested regions at elevations of 1581–1956 m in Yunnan Province, China. The tribe is broadly associated with trees and shrubs across temperate and tropical zones.

Distribution

distribution spanning Nearctic (excluding Sonoran subregion in some studies), Palearctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Documented from China (Yunnan, Hainan, Henan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Taiwan), North America, and other global localities.

Diet

Phloem-feeding on vascular plants. in the Idioscopus have been recorded from Myrica (Myricaceae), Mangifera (Anacardiaceae), Dimocarpus (Sapindaceae), and Prunus (Rosaceae).

Host Associations

Myrica - Myricaceae; recorded for Idioscopus ventrispinus
Mangifera - Anacardiaceae; cited for Idioscopus
Dimocarpus - Sapindaceae; cited for Idioscopus
Prunus - Rosaceae; cited for Idioscopus

Behavior

Specimens have been collected using in vegetation. Many are recognized as agricultural and forest pests.

Ecological Role

Certain members function as agricultural and forest pests through feeding on economically important . The tribe contributes to phloem-feeding associated with trees and shrubs.

Human Relevance

Some are economically significant as pests of agricultural and forest trees, including mango (Mangifera) and related fruit trees. The tribe has been subject to extensive taxonomic study due to its agricultural importance and .

Similar Taxa

Other Eurymelinae tribesIdiocerini shares Eurymelinae with other tribes but differs in male genitalic , particularly aedeagal shaft structure with paired , and antennal characters.

More Details

Taxonomic history

Formerly treated as the Idiocerinae, now included within Eurymelinae following phylogenetic studies.

Phylogenetic research

Complete mitochondrial have been sequenced for multiple (Anidiocerus, Hyalinocerus, and others), confirming Idiocerini as a clade within Eurymelinae.

Notable genera

Includes Idiocerus (the with numerous subgenera), Idioscopus, Rhytidodus, Balcanocerus, and Amritodus among 60+ recognized genera.