Acanaloniidae

Adults are small, leaf-mimicking planthoppers with a distinctive cone-shaped head. Forewings display reticulate (net-like) venation without the parallel cross-veins found in the related family Flatidae. Nymphs produce copious white waxy filaments from abdominal glands, often appearing as fluffy white masses on plant stems. Adults of Acanalonia species are green and blend remarkably well with foliage. The family can be distinguished from Flatidae by wing venation pattern and from Issidae by head shape and genitalic characters.

Found in diverse terrestrial habitats including forests, shrublands, and agricultural areas. Associated with various host plants including roses, dogwoods, locusts, privets, hollies, maples, and herbaceous perennials. In Europe, introduced populations have established in urban and suburban environments.

Native to the New World (North, Central, and South America, including the Caribbean). Several species have been introduced and established in Europe: Acanalonia conica is now found in Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Italy; Acanalonia bivittata has been recorded in northern Italy. The family represents the first Nearctic planthopper lineage to establish in Europe.

Nymphs emerge in spring from eggs inserted in plant stems by adults. Adults are present throughout summer and into autumn. Activity peaks during hot, humid summer conditions.

Phloem sap feeders. Adults and nymphs insert their beak-like mouthparts into plant vascular tissue and withdraw nutrient-laden sap using a cibarial pump in the head. Excrete honeydew as a byproduct.

Females insert eggs into plant stems. Nymphs hatch in spring and develop through multiple instars, producing characteristic white waxy secretions. Nymphs molt and become adults that remain on host plants through summer and autumn. Wax production diminishes in adulthood.

Nymphs are negatively geotactic, crawling upward when disturbed. Adults are capable of hopping to escape disturbance. Both stages produce substantial quantities of white wax from abdominal glands, possibly as defense against parasitoids and predators.

Minor plant pests; feeding may cause terminal drooping in small plants and egg insertion can cause branch withering, though generally cause little significant damage. Honeydew excretion supports sooty mold growth and attracts other insects such as wasps and ants. Serve as prey for lacewings, lady beetles, and other generalist predators.

Several species have become invasive in Europe, potentially impacting agriculture. Generally not considered significant pests in native range; insecticide use is typically unwarranted. Some species show promise as indicators of plant stress or environmental change.

• FlatidaeSimilar tent-like wing posture and waxy secretions, but Flatidae have parallel cross-veins along the costal margin of forewings rather than reticulate venation. Adults also tend to hold wings more horizontally in some subfamilies.
• IssidaeSometimes treated as the same family (Acanaloniidae as subfamily Acanaloniinae), distinguished by head shape and male and female genitalic characters.
• MembracidaeBoth are sap-feeding planthoppers in Fulgoroidea, but treehoppers have highly modified pronotum forming thorn-like or helmet-like structures, unlike the cone-headed but otherwise unornamented Acanaloniidae.

• planthopper
• sap-feeder
• wax-producing
• invasive species
• Fulgoroidea
• Nearctic origin
• Europe introduction
• leaf mimic
• cone-headed
• phloem feeder
• honeydew producer

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Waxy wanderers flocking flowers: Planthoppers - Flatidae and Acanaloniidae — Bug of the Week
• Hemiptera | Beetles In The Bush | Page 7
• Archive — Bug of the Week
• Sea Grape Flatid – Petrusa epilepsis | Beetles In The Bush
• Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830): A new alien planthopper species established in Hungary (Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Acanaloniidae)
• On the composition and distribution of the family Acanaloniidae Amyot et Serville (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea)
• Host Plants and Nymphal Descriptions of Acanalonia pumila and Cyarda sp. near acutissima (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea: Acanaloniidae and Flatidae)
• Acanalonia conica (Hemiptera, Acanaloniidae) – a new exotic species in Bulgaria and Türkiye and its expansion in Europe
• New record of Orientus ishidae (Matsumura, 1902) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Bulgaria with notes on the distribution of Acanalonia conica (Say, 1830) (Hemiptera: Acanaloniidae)
• First record of three alien Auchenorrhyncha species from Europe: Acanalonia bivittata (Say, 1825), Branchana xanthota Li, 2011, and Dryadomorpha pallida Kirkaldy 1906 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Acanaloniidae, Cicadellidae)