Tropiduchinae
Stål, 1866
Tribe Guides
2Tropiduchinae is a of planthoppers within the Tropiduchidae, established by Stål in 1866. The subfamily encompasses numerous tribes and distributed globally, with particularly diverse representation in tropical and subtropical regions. Members share the general body plan characteristic of tropiduchid planthoppers, though specific diagnostic features distinguishing the subfamily from other tropiduchid subfamilies require examination. The group includes both extant and extinct lineages, with the fossil tribe †Emilianini documented from Eocene deposits.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tropiduchinae: /ˌtrɒpɪˈdjuːʃɪniː/
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Distribution
Global distribution with concentration in tropical and subtropical regions. Individual tribes and show distinct geographic patterns: Alcestini and Catulliini occur in the Old World tropics; Tambiniini is widespread in the Oriental and Australian regions; Tropiduchini has representatives in the Neotropics, Afrotropics, and Oriental regions; Tangiini is primarily Afrotropical and Oriental. The extinct tribe †Emilianini is known from Eocene Baltic amber.
Similar Taxa
- ElicinaeOther within Tropiduchidae; distinguished by wing venation patterns and male genitalia structure, requiring microscopic examination for reliable separation.
- ReptalinaeTropiduchid with more limited distribution; Tropiduchinae generally exhibits greater tribal diversity and broader geographic range.
More Details
Tribal diversity
Tropiduchinae contains at least 12 recognized tribes: Alcestini, Catulliini, Chrysopuchini, Cixiopsini, Cyphoceratopini, †Emilianini, Tambiniini, Tangiini, Trienopini, Tropiduchini, Trypetimorphini, and Turneriolini. This represents the most diverse tribal composition among tropiduchid .
Notable genera
The includes several economically or ecologically significant : Tambinia (bamboo-feeding ), Ommatissus (includes pest species on palms), and Tropiduchus (type genus with numerous described species).
Fossil record
The extinct tribe †Emilianini, described by Shcherbakov in 2006 from Eocene Baltic amber, represents the only fossil tribe currently assigned to Tropiduchinae, indicating the 's antiquity extends at least to the Eocene epoch.