Jumping-insect
Guides
Anotia fitchi
ball-nosed planthopper
Anotia fitchi is a rare, flightless or weakly-flying planthopper species endemic to North American tallgrass prairies. Adults measure less than 5 mm in length but can leap up to 35 inches—approximately 250 times their body length—making them among the most prodigious jumpers relative to size in the insect world. The species was historically known from scattered records across 16 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, but 90% of all collected specimens come from a single 12-year study in Iowa prairies. Its distinctive inflated, spherical beak may function in intraspecific communication.
Caelifera
Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies, Short-horned Grasshoppers
Caelifera is a suborder of Orthoptera comprising approximately 12,000 described species across 2,400 genera, including grasshoppers, ground-hoppers (Tetrigoidea), and pygmy mole crickets (Tridactyloidea). The group is distinguished from the other orthopteran suborder Ensifera by short antennae, enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping, and a stout, chisel-like ovipositor (the source of its Latin name meaning 'chisel-bearing'). Caelifera represents one of the oldest lineages of chewing herbivorous insects, with fossil records extending to the latest Permian. The suborder is divided into two infraorders: Tridactylidea (pygmy mole crickets and extinct relatives) and Acrididea (grasshoppers and ground-hoppers).
Eupelminae
Eupelminae is a subfamily of parasitic wasps within the family Eupelmidae (Chalcidoidea). Members exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism, with females possessing a remarkable jumping ability powered by modified mesothoracic musculature and resilin energy storage. Females of many species have reduced flight capability and rely on walking, while males fly readily. The subfamily includes important biological control agents such as species of Anastatus, which parasitize the eggs of diverse hosts including moths, true bugs, cockroaches, and stick insects.
Halticus
fleahoppers, jumping plant bugs
Halticus is a genus of fleahoppers in the family Miridae, containing at least 20 described species. Members are commonly known as jumping plant bugs due to their characteristic leaping behavior. Some species are economically significant agricultural pests, particularly of cotton and sweet potato, while at least one species has been identified as a putative vector of phytoplasma plant pathogens.
Hepzygina
Hepzygina is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, and tribe Erythroneurini. The genus was formally described by Dietrich and Dmitriev in 2006. Like other erythroneurine leafhoppers, members of this genus are small, plant-feeding insects that inhabit diverse terrestrial environments. The genus is represented by relatively few documented observations.
Nomotettix cristatus
crested pygmy grasshopper, crested grouse locust, northern crested grouse locust
Nomotettix cristatus is a small pygmy grasshopper in the family Tetrigidae, commonly known as the crested pygmy grasshopper or crested grouse locust. It is one of approximately 35 Nearctic species of Tetrigidae. The species exhibits three recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions across North America. Like other members of its family, it is characterized by an elongated pronotum that extends over the abdomen, a trait distinguishing pygmy grasshoppers from typical grasshoppers in Acrididae.
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spumarius
Meadow Spittlebug, Meadow Froghopper
Philaenus spumarius is a small spittlebug (5–7 mm) in the family Aphrophoridae, native to the Palearctic and introduced to North America. The species exhibits extreme color polymorphism with approximately 20 known color varieties ranging from yellowish and brownish to black. Nymphs produce characteristic foam masses for protection, while adults are strong jumpers and capable fliers. It has become economically significant as the primary European vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing Olive Quick Decline Syndrome and Pierce's disease in grapevines.
Psylloidea
jumping plant lice, psyllids, psylloids
Psylloidea is a superfamily of true bugs (Hemiptera) in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, commonly known as jumping plant lice or psyllids. The group comprises approximately 3,800 described species classified into seven extant families: Aphalaridae, Calophyidae, Carsidaridae, Liviidae, Mastigimatidae, Psyllidae, and Triozidae. Fossil evidence indicates the superfamily originated in the Early Jurassic, though modern families do not appear until the Eocene. Psyllids are obligate phloem-feeders, typically exhibiting high host specificity with most species restricted to a single plant species or closely related group. Many species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably as vectors of bacterial and viral plant pathogens.