Smilia fasciata

Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843

Smilia fasciata is a North American in the Membracidae, first described in 1843. It is distinguished from its Smilia camelus by a lower pronotum and a white stripe rather than a greenish-yellow stripe. The species exhibits in size, with females reaching approximately 9 mm and males 7–8 mm. It is commonly associated with oak trees across the eastern United States.

Smilia fasciata by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Smilia fasciata: /ˈsmiː.li.ə fæsˈkiː.ə.tə/

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Identification

Distinguished from Smilia camelus by two key features: a lower pronotum and a white stripe (versus greenish-yellow in S. camelus). Size difference between sexes is pronounced, with females notably larger than males.

Images

Appearance

Medium-sized with a pronounced pronotal helmet. The pronotum is lower than that of Smilia camelus. Features a distinct white stripe (in contrast to the greenish-yellow stripe of S. camelus). Females measure approximately 9 mm in length; males are smaller at 7–8 mm.

Habitat

Associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.) in woodland and forest environments. Found across the eastern United States in areas supporting oak .

Distribution

Eastern half of the United States. Documented records include Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Diet

Feeds on most of oak (Quercus). Specific feeding mechanism (phloem feeding) is typical of the but not explicitly documented for this species.

Host Associations

  • Quercus - food plantmost oak

Similar Taxa

  • Smilia camelusSimilar overall appearance but differs in pronotum height (lower in S. fasciata) and stripe color (white versus greenish-yellow)

More Details

Taxonomic history

First described by Charles Jean-Baptiste Amyot and Jean Guillaume Audinet-Serville in 1843. The name 'fasciata' refers to the banded or striped appearance.

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Sources and further reading