Centrodontini
Deitz, 1975
Genus Guides
3Centrodontini is a tribe of treehoppers within the Centrotinae, Membracidae, established by Deitz in 1975. Members of this tribe are characterized by distinctive pronotal and are part of the diverse membracid fauna. The tribe contains multiple distributed primarily in the Old World tropics. Treehoppers in this group are associated with woody plants and exhibit the enlarged pronotum typical of the family.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Centrodontini: //ˌsɛntrəˈdɒntɪnaɪ//
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Identification
Centrodontini can be distinguished from other Centrotinae tribes by pronotal features including the arrangement of spines and the structure of the pronotal process. The pronotum typically extends over the body but does not form the extreme elaborations seen in some other membracid groups. Specific diagnostic characters involve the configuration of the metopidium, the presence and arrangement of suprahumeral horns, and the structure of the pronotal disc. Detailed identification requires examination of genitalia and precise pronotal measurements.
Habitat
in this tribe inhabit tropical and subtropical forest environments, particularly in regions with dense woody vegetation. They are found on the stems and branches of their plants, often at various heights in the forest or understory.
Distribution
The tribe is distributed across the Old World tropics, with records from Africa, Asia, and associated island regions. Specific range boundaries for the tribe as a whole remain incompletely documented due to taxonomic revisions and uneven sampling.
Host Associations
- woody dicotyledonous plants - phloem feeding plant specificity varies by and ; many members feed on legumes and other woody angiosperms.
Ecological Role
As phloem feeders, members of this tribe transfer plant sap between tissues and excrete honeydew, potentially supporting mutualisms and contributing to nutrient cycling in forest . They serve as prey for various and .
Human Relevance
Centrodontini has no documented direct economic importance. Some may occur on cultivated plants but are not recognized as significant agricultural pests.
Similar Taxa
- CentrotiniAlso in Centrotinae; differs in pronotal spine configuration and geographic distribution patterns, with Centrotini being more broadly distributed and showing different pronotal elaboration.
- GargariniAnother Centrotinae tribe; Gargarini typically exhibits more reduced pronotal processes and different body proportions, with many showing smoother pronotal contours.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The tribe was established by Lewis L. Deitz in 1975 as part of a comprehensive revision of Membracidae classification. Deitz's work reorganized the historically chaotic higher-level of treehoppers using morphological characters, particularly pronotal and genitalic features. The tribal boundaries have been refined through subsequent work, though molecular phylogenetic studies of Membracidae remain limited.