Hoplophorionini

Goding, 1926

Genus Guides

Ochropepla
Platycotis
Umbonia(Thorn Treehoppers)

Hoplophorionini is a tribe of treehoppers (Membracidae) comprising 105 in 10 , distributed from Canada to Chile with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Members are characterized by elaborate pronotal modifications and, uniquely among Membracidae, are apparently subsocial and lack mutualistic associations with honeydew-collecting ants. includes specialized defensive kicking and construction of extra-ovipositional punctures in tissue through which nymphs feed.

Platycotis vittata by (c) John Hibbard, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Hibbard. Used under a CC-BY license.

Platycotis vittata by (c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cricket Raspet. Used under a CC-BY license.

Umbonia by no rights reserved, uploaded by Zygy. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hoplophorionini: /hɒpləfɔːrɪˈoʊnɪnaɪ/

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

Identification

Hoplophorionini can be distinguished from other Membracidae tribes by the combination of: (1) subsocial with parental care, (2) absence of mutualism, (3) presence of specialized kicking defense, and (4) construction of extra-ovipositional punctures for nymphal feeding. The tribe includes with diverse pronotal modifications, from relatively unmodified forms in Potnia to highly elaborate structures in Umbonia and related genera. A key to the 10 genera is available in taxonomic revisions.

Images

Habitat

Tropical and subtropical environments from southern Canada through Central America to Chile, with greatest generic diversity in Central America and highest near the equator. Three (Stalotypa, Ramosella, Stirpis) are to the Greater Antilles.

Distribution

New World: Canada to Chile, with center of diversity in Central America and the equatorial Neotropics. Includes Caribbean endemics in Jamaica and Dominican Republic.

Diet

Phloem-feeding on plants; specific host associations documented for multiple and .

Life Cycle

Subsocial development with parental care. Females construct extra-ovipositional punctures in plant tissue through which nymphs feed, a distinctive feature of the tribe.

Behavior

Subsocial with in offspring. Specialized kicking defense used to protect and nymphs. Uniquely among Membracidae, members lack mutualistic associations with honeydew-collecting hymenopterans. mimicry has not been documented in this tribe.

Similar Taxa

Other Membracidae tribes (e.g., Aconophorini, Membracini)Hoplophorionini differs in being subsocial, lacking mutualism, and possessing specialized kicking defense and extra-ovipositional puncture construction for nymphal feeding—traits absent in most other tribes.

More Details

Taxonomic history

The tribe was revised taxonomically in 1996, resulting in description of three new (Ramosella, Stirpis, Turrialbia), three new , and multiple synonymies and new combinations. The genus Micropepla was synonymized under Ochropepla.

Phylogenetic significance

Phylogenetic analysis of 23 produced 9 minimal-length . Potnia appears to have retained the greatest number of ancestral features. The modification of ancestral kicking in early hoplophorionines is hypothesized to have released constraints on pronotal form, permitting evolution of elaborate pronotal modifications.

Aposematic coloration

Aposematic coloration of probably evolved once within the tribe.