Melanoliarus aridus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder: Fulgoromorpha
Superfamily: Delphacoidea
Family: Cixiidae
Subfamily: Cixiinae
Tribe: Pentastirini
Genus: Melanoliarus
Species: aridus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Melanoliarus aridus: //mɛlənoʊˈlaɪərəs ˈærɪdəs//

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Summary

Melanoliarus aridus, commonly known as the Black-shouldered Cixiid, is a planthopper in the family Cixiidae. It is part of a genus that contains approximately 50 described species that are widespread across the Nearctic and Neotropics. It primarily feeds on Prunus species and has a distribution that centers in the southern United States and parts of Mexico.

Habitat

Common and widespread in the Nearctic and Neotropics, particularly in habitats associated with Prunus species.

Distribution

United States from Arizona to Texas, with most records from southern Texas to eastern Kansas; also found in Mexico.

Diet

Feeds on plant sap from Prunus sp. (Rosaceae).

Collecting Methods

Pitfall traps

Evolution

Originally described as a subgenus of Oliarus; elevated to genus rank in 2001 and 2002 based on distribution studies.

Similar Taxa

Oliarus
Cixiidae