Tropiduchidae

Stål, 1866

Tropiduchid Planthoppers

Subfamily Guides

is a of planthoppers in the order Hemiptera, within the superfamily Fulgoroidea. The family contains at least 160 and approximately 600 described distributed worldwide. Members are characterized by their planthopper and are classified within the Elicinae and other subfamilies. The family includes economically significant pests such as (the Dubas ), a serious pest of date palms in the Middle East and North Africa.

Danepteryx sequoiae by (c) Elliott Gordon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Elliott Gordon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Kallitaxila by (c) Jason Alexander, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jason Alexander. Used under a CC-BY license.

Misodema reticulata by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tropiduchidae: //ˌtrɒpɪˈdjuːkɪdiː//

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Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution including Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Borneo, Chile, China, Oman, and other regions. Specific documented locations include: Madagascar ( Laberia), Bas-Uélé Province of northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (genus Fritzruehlia), Borneo and Greater Sunda region (genus Sogana), Coquimbo Region of Chile (genus Selamorpha), Yunnan and southwestern China (genus Zema), and Oman and Middle East ().

Host Associations

Calceolaria polifolia - associated withSelamorpha variegata found associated with this plant in Chile
Phoenix dactylifera - pest of is a serious pest of date palms
Various plants - Pelitropis rotulata has documented plants

Human Relevance

The includes economically important agricultural pests. (Dubas ) is a key pest of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) in the Middle East and North Africa, causing direct damage to leaves and coating them with honeydew, which can reduce fruit yields by up to 50%. This has driven research into methods and strategies.

More Details

Taxonomic Structure

The has been subject to significant taxonomic revision. Recent studies have established new tribes such as Laberiini within the Elicinae. The Scolopsomorpha was moved from Dictyopharidae to Tropiduchidae. The family is part of the planthopper superfamily Fulgoroidea and is characterized by specific morphological features of the , tegmina, legs, and genital structures that distinguish it from related families.

Research and Control Efforts

Due to the economic importance of , substantial research has been conducted on and geographical information system techniques for modeling and densities. Molecular gut content analysis has identified at least 56 of O. lybicus, providing opportunities for . Studies have shown that predator respond to changes in O. lybicus , with higher rates in spring compared to autumn.