Rhinocolinae
Genus Guides
1Rhinocolinae is a of jumping plant lice (psyllids) within the Aphalaridae. The subfamily comprises approximately 15 , including both extant and one extinct genus (†Protoscena). These insects are small, phloem-feeding Hemiptera associated with plants, though specific biological details for the subfamily as a whole remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Rhinocolinae: /raɪ.noʊ.kəˈlaɪniː/
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Identification
Members of Rhinocolinae can be distinguished from other Aphalaridae by genitalic and wing venation characters established in systematic revisions. The subfamily contains with varied morphologies, including those with distinctive and wing shapes (e.g., Rhinocola, Leurolophus). Precise identification to genus level requires examination of male and female genitalia and forewing venation patterns.
Distribution
The has a broad distribution with recorded from multiple regions: Rhinocola and related genera occur in the Palearctic and Nearctic; Tainarys is Neotropical; Agonoscena and Megagonoscena are Palearctic; Ameroscena, Cerationotum, and Crucianus occur in the Nearctic; Rhusaphalara is known from East Asia (South Korea). The extinct genus †Protoscena is known from Baltic amber (Eocene).
Similar Taxa
- AphalarinaeAnother within Aphalaridae; distinguished from Rhinocolinae by genitalic and wing venation characters, particularly in the male paramere structure and radial configuration.
- SpondyliaspidinaeHistorically related of psyllids; Rhinocolinae differs in associations and certain wing venation features, though both share the -level characteristics of Aphalaridae.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Rhinocolinae has undergone significant taxonomic revision. The was established based on morphological characters of the male genitalia and forewing venation. Several (Ameroscena, Cerationotum, Crucianus, Megagonoscena) were described by Burckhardt & Lauterer in 1989, indicating active systematic work on this group in the late 20th century.
Extinct Record
The †Protoscena, described by Klimaszewski in 1997 from Baltic amber, represents the only known extinct member of the , providing evidence for Eocene-age diversification of Rhinocolinae.