Entylia

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Entylia: /ɛnˈtɪliə/

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Summary

Entylia carinata, or the keeled treehopper, is a small, brown sap-feeding insect endemic to the Americas renowned for its unique saddle-shaped keels and symbiotic relationships with ants that tend to them and their nymphs.

Physical Characteristics

Keeled treehoppers are small and brown with unique saddle-shaped keels. They exhibit sexual dimorphism: females typically measure 1/4 of an inch (6.35 mm) with pronounced keels, while males are smaller with less noticeable keels.

Identification Tips

Look for the distinct saddle-shaped keels on the back of these insects. Males may sometimes be misidentified due to their appearance.

Habitat

Keeled treehoppers are commonly found on various plants, especially in the family Asteraceae. They prefer habitats with susceptible plant growth during the spring.

Distribution

These insects are distributed across Canada, the eastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Diet

Keeled treehoppers feed on plant sap extracted from various plants, primarily those in the Asteraceae family.

Life Cycle

As adults, they overwinter in leaf litter and debris, emerging in March. They implant their eggs on aster leaves, where the eggs cause the leaf to fold over, providing protection for the nymphs once hatched.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs on host plants, preferably during spring when the plants exhibit vulnerable growth and soft tissues.

Ecosystem Role

Keeled treehoppers play a role in their ecosystem by participating in ant-tending mutualism, with ants protecting them and feeding on their honeydew.

Economic Impact

Not considered significant plant pests; they do not transmit plant diseases.

Evolution

The genus Entylia is likely to be monotypic, with an association that could lead to the synonymization with Publilia.

Misconceptions

Males may be misidentified due to their appearance, often appearing significantly different from females.

Tags

• Insect
• Hemiptera
• Treehopper
• Entylia carinata
• Symbiosis
• Asteraceae