Telamonini
Goding, 1892
Telamonini is a tribe of in the , comprising approximately 9 and at least 50 described . The tribe was reinstated from synonymy with Smiliini based on morphological phylogenetic analysis. Members are predominantly Nearctic in distribution, with strong evolutionary associations with oak (Quercus) as plants. represent the predominant feeding stage and are critical for accurate host determination, as movements often produce unreliable records.



Pronunciation
How to pronounce Telamonini: /ˌtɛləməˈnaɪnaɪ/
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Identification
Telamonini can be distinguished from the related tribe Smiliini by several morphological characters: the margin of the , the shape of the , the size of the pronotal , the presence or absence of pronotal longitudinal rugae, the size of , variations in the fusion of R and M apically in both fore- and hind , and the shape of the of the female second . Within Telamonini, nymphal shows differences among within Archasia, Glossonotus, Heliria, and Telamona that suggest current generic definitions may require revision.
Images
Habitat
Associated with mostly woody, deciduous trees; strongly linked to oak (Quercus) forests and woodlands.
Distribution
Nearctic region, with historical origins in Central America and Mexico followed by multiple to temperate North America.
Diet
Phloem-feeding on plants; are the predominant feeding stage.
Host Associations
- Quercus (oak) - primary 45 of 68 telamonine have been recorded from oak; oak (Q. alba) is the most common
- Quercus alba (white oak) - most common Single most frequently recorded for the tribe
- Telamona monticola host range - exampleRecorded from 29 , the most species in the tribe
Life Cycle
are the predominant feeding stage and have been successfully reared to the stage on 15 . Nymphal collections are essential for accurate plant determination, as adult records are often unreliable due to adult movement. First morphological have been provided for nymphs of 14 species.
Behavior
exhibit movement between plants that makes records based solely on adult captures potentially unreliable.
Similar Taxa
- SmiliiniFormerly included Telamonini as a junior synonym; distinguished by pronotal rugae, patterns, and female
- Atymna, Cyrtolobus, Heliria, Telamona (as currently defined)These are not based on phylogenetic analysis, indicating that morphological convergence or inadequate character sampling may complicate identification
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- iNaturalist taxon
- Catalogue of Life
- Belostomatidae | Beetles In The Bush
- Morphology-based phylogenetic analysis of the treehopper tribe Smiliini (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Smiliinae), with reinstatement of the tribe Telamonini
- The host plants of the Telamonini treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Smiliinae) and the first diagnoses of nymphs for 14 species