Membracoidea
Guides
Aconophora compressa
lantana bug, lantana treehopper, lantana stemsucking treehopper, lantana sap-sucking bug
Aconophora compressa is a treehopper (family Membracidae) native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. It was introduced to Australia in 1995 as a biological control agent for the invasive weed Lantana camara. The species is brown, up to 8 mm long, with a thorn-shaped body and produces copious honeydew. It has been documented to attack non-target plants, particularly fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum) in Australia, leading to its discontinuation as a biocontrol agent after 2001. It was also rejected for use in South Africa due to unacceptable risks to indigenous Lippia species.
treehopperbiological-controlinvasive-species-managementMembracidaephloem-feedermaternal-caregregarioushoneydew-producernon-target-effectsLantana-camaraMexicoAustraliaSouth-AfricaVerbenaceaeCitharexylum-spinosumLippiaAloysia-citrodorathermal-tolerancestem-suckingsap-feedingegg-guardinginstarsnymphal-developmentweed-biocontrolhost-range-expansionecological-risk-assessmentbiosecurityWalker-1851AconophoriniMembracinaeHemipteraAuchenorrhynchaCicadomorphaMembracoideaAcutalis
Acutalis is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae, first described by Léon Fairmaire in 1846. The genus contains four species distributed across eastern North America and parts of Central and South America. Like other treehoppers, species in this genus possess an enlarged pronotum that extends over the body. Acutalis tartarea has been photographed in the field on goldenrod (Solidago sp.) in Missouri.
Aetalion
Aetalion is a genus of treehoppers (family Aetalionidae) comprising 25 described species. Members of this genus are distributed across the New World tropics and are characterized by their lack of the enlarged pronotal processes typical of the more diverse Membracidae. The genus includes economically significant species such as A. reticulatum, which has been documented as a pest of various agricultural and forest crops.
Aetalionidae
Aetalionid Treehoppers
Aetalionidae is a family of treehoppers in the superfamily Membracoidea, distinguished from the more diverse Membracidae by morphological features including a front femur fused to the trochanter and a completely exposed scutellum. The family is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with two recognized subfamilies: Biturritiinae (exclusively Neotropical) and Aetalioninae (containing the Neotropical genus Aetalion and the Paleotropical genus Darthula). Females exhibit maternal care by guarding egg masses, and many species form aggregations on tree branches where they produce honeydew and associate with ants and stingless bees.
Balclutha knulli
Balclutha knulli is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Davidson & DeLong in 1935. It belongs to the genus Balclutha, a group of small, often colorful leafhoppers commonly known as sharpshooters or leafhoppers. The species name honors Joseph Knull, a prominent American coleopterist who described many Buprestidae and other beetle species. As a member of the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Macrostelini, it is part of a large and diverse radiation of leafhoppers that feed on plant vascular tissues.
Brenda
Brenda is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Megophthalminae, established by Oman in 1941. It belongs to the tribe Megophthalmini within the infraorder Cicadomorpha. The genus is part of the diverse Membracoidea superfamily, which includes many sap-feeding insects associated with vascular plants.
Crumbana
Crumbana is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. The genus was established by Oman in 1949. It belongs to the tribe Deltocephalini, a diverse group within the leafhopper superfamily Membracoidea. Species-level information for this genus appears limited in public databases.
Cuerna emeljanovi
Cuerna emeljanovi is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini, described in 2015. It belongs to the genus Cuerna, a group of relatively large, robust leafhoppers within the subfamily Cicadellinae. The species was described by Krishnankutty and Rakitov. Like other members of its tribe, it likely exhibits the characteristic enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping that define the family.
Draeculacephala constricta
A species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described from western Texas in 1943. The genus Draeculacephala is characterized by distinctive head morphology, with species often exhibiting elongated or modified facial structures. Draeculacephala constricta occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and has been documented in association with woody legumes including Vachellia constricta (whitethorn acacia), which shares its specific epithet.
leafhopperCicadellidaedesertsouthwestern-USVachelliaacaciaphloem-feederCicadomorphaHemiptera1943-descriptionDavidsonDeLongwestern-Texasaridland-insectwoody-legume-associatehead-morphologygenus-Draeculacephalainsectaarthropodaanimaliaaccepted-speciesGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIiNaturalistobserved-313-timesAlbertaFloridaIllinoisIndianaIowaNew-MexicoArizonasummer-activityJulymonsoon-seasonphloem-feedernutrient-cyclingpredator-preyspider-preybird-preydesert-scrubsemi-aridmesquitecreosoteFabaceaehost-planttaxonomic-descriptionmale-genitaliawing-venationconcave-headproduced-headfacial-structurespecific-epithetconstrictednarrowedidentificationmorphological-detailscongenersCuernaCicadelliniCicadellinaeMembracoideaClypeataAuchenorrhynchaHexapodatrue-bugsMetazoaEukaryotaErronus affinis
Erronus affinis is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman in 1987. It belongs to the subfamily Errhomeninae and tribe Bathysmatophorini. The genus Erronus is part of a group of leafhoppers characterized by particular morphological features associated with this tribe. Very little specific information is available about the biology, ecology, or distribution of this particular species.
Eupterella
Eupterella is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, described by DeLong & Ruppel in 1950. It belongs to the tribe Typhlocybini and subtribe Typhlocybina. The genus is poorly documented with minimal available information on its species diversity and biology.
Flexamia huroni
Huron River Leafhopper
Flexamia huroni is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Bess & Hamilton in 1999. It belongs to the genus Flexamia, a group of leafhoppers known for their specialized host plant associations with grasses. The species is named after the Huron River in Michigan, where it was first collected. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits strong ecological dependence on specific grass host plants.
leafhoppercicadellidaedeltocephalinaeparalimniniflexamiagrass-specialistmichigan-endemicauchenorrhynchahemipterainsectaarthropodaanimaliatrue-bugplanthopper-relative1999-descriptionbesshamiltonhuronihuron-riverusanorth-americagrassland-insecthost-specificpoorly-knownrareuncommondata-deficientgbifcatalogue-of-lifencbiinaturalisttaxonspeciesacceptedhexapodacicadomorphaclypeatamembracoideaparalimninaflexamia-huronibess-&-hamilton1999exact-matchaccepted-namecanonical-namescientific-nameauthorshiprankstatusmatchedtaxonomyclassificationeukaryotametazoadistributionmichiganobservations0wikipedianonepreferred-common-namehuron-river-leafhoppertrue-bugsgroupkingdomphylumclassorderfamilygenusauthorityiptintegrated-publishing-toolkitbiodiversity-data-journalzookeysnature-conservationcomparative-cytogeneticsopen-accessopen-accessjournalpublicationdatasetspecimentypenomenclatural-typeherbariumuniversity-of-granadaspainfungilichensagaricalescortinariusantonio-ortegamediterraneanfranceitalyimage-collectioncolección-de-imágenes-de-los-tipos-nomenclaturales-de-hongoslíquenesmusgos-y-algasgdagdacvizosoquesada2015doi10.3897bdj3e5204new-speciesnew-jersey-pine-barrensmuhlenbergia-torreyanapinebarren-smokegrassthreatened-speciesandrew-hicksmuseum-of-natural-historyuniversity-of-coloradogerry-moorenatural-resources-conservation-servicegreensboronculi-lorimerbrooklyn-botanic-gardenf.-whitcombirobert-whitcombmicrobiologyornithologyecologyhost-plantwarming-climatehuman-activitieszookeys-51169-79zookeys.511.9572roundwormnematodeantarcticamblydorylaimus-isokaryonipararhyssocolpus-paradoxusbulgariascanning-electron-microscopysemmaritime-antarcticantarctic-islandslip-regionspearvulvapostembryonic-developmentmolecular-analysesdorylaimidaelshishkalazarovaradoslavovhristovpeneva25-68zookeys.511.9793anidiv2bulgarian-academy-of-sciencesnational-scientific-fundoctocoralokinawajapannanipora-kamurailiving-fossilblue-coralhelioporaaragonite-calcium-carbonateskeletonscleractinianssoft-coralheliporacealithotelestidaeepiphaxumdeep-seashallow-coral-reefzamami-islandnational-parkmiyazakireimer1-23zookeys.511.9432non-biting-midgechironomusch.-bernensisnorth-caucasusrussiacaucasian-populationseuropesiberiakaryotypemorphologymouthpartslarvaechromosomegenotypic-combinationsmineralizationeutrophicationkarmokovpolukonovasinichkinatembotov-institute-of-ecology-of-mountain-territoriessaratov-state-medical-universitycomparative-cytogenetics-9281-297compcytogen.v9i3.4519sea-turtlerescue-centrefirst-aid-stationloggerheadgreen-turtlecaretta-carettachelonia-mydasbycatchmortalitygreecemigrationsexual-maturityullmannstachowitschuit-the-arctic-university-of-norwaynature-conservation-1045-69natureconservation.10.4890regional-activity-centre-for-specially-protected-areasporcupinecoendou-ichilluslower-urubambaperucanopy-bridgepipelinenatural-gasarborealcamera-trapdwarf-porcupineiquitos770ggregorylundezamora-mezacarrasco-ruedarepsol-exploración-perúzookeys-509109-121zookeys.509.9821antprionopeltamadagascarseychellessubterraneanleaf-litterdracula-anthemolymphlarval-hemolymph-feedingoophagymadagascar-biodiversity-centeroversonfisherzookeys-507115-150zookeys.507.9303itobillenmasukospideranelosimussubsocialcobweb-spidertheridiidaedeforestationbiodiversity-hotspotagnarssonuniversity-of-vermontsmithsonian-national-museum-of-natural-historywallacehuxleybuffonhookerlamarckdarwinmoramoraeriophyoid-miteacarixinjiangchinarosaceaeparacolomerusgallji-wei-liwangxuezhangzookeys-50897-111zookeys.508.8940shihezi-universitygrasshopperwyomingmelanoplusmelanoplinaeacrididaetetrigidaegomphocerniaeoedipodinaecyrtacanthacridinaedistribution-atlasfield-guidewgiswyoming-grasshopper-information-systemkeycapinerasechristhebardhelferscudderblatchleythomassayharrisdegeerbrunersaussuregirarddodgewalkerfieberfabriciusservillemcneilltinkhamburmeisterhaldemanbig-horn-mountainsblack-hillsgladstonindigensinfantilisdodgeioregonensismarshalliyellowstone-national-parksagebrushpineelevationshortgrass-prairiemixedgrass-prairieforbgrasseconomic-damagerangelandbenefitoverwinteregghatchadultlate-summeraugustoctoberjunelife-cyclefood-habitsizecollectionsurveyunderreportedcommonendemicrestricted-rangeforest-openinggrassymoderate-elevationlargersmallereastwestunited-statesamericanorthsouthcentralrangeextentlimitedrestrictedabundantpopulationdensityoccurrencepresenceabsencehabitatenvironmentconditionaltitudetopographyterrainvegetationplantshrubtreeforestopeningmeadowprairiesteppesavannawoodlanddrawslopeaspectsoilsubstratemoisturetemperatureclimateweatherseasonphenologytimingactivitynymphemergemoltdevelopgrowreproducemateovipositdiegenerationvoltinismunivoltinebivoltinemultivoltinesemivoltinediapauseaestivationhibernationdispersalmovementbehaviorhabitactionfeedingdietfoodhostassociationrelationshipinteractionspecialistgeneralistmonophagyoligophagypolyphagyherbivoredetritivorepredatorparasitoidscavengereconomic-importancepestbeneficialneutraldamagecontrolmanagementconservationthreatenedendangeredvulnerablesecureunknownglobal-biodiversity-information-facilityesbiodiversity-image-portalspanish-collectionstype-specimenlichenantarcticabernensisliyellowstoneGyponana cacumina
Gyponana cacumina is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by DeLong in 1942. Like other members of its genus, it produces brochosomes—complex protein-lipid nanoparticles that form a superhydrophobic, anti-reflective coating on its body and wings. The species has been recorded from multiple states in the northeastern United States and Arizona.
Hamana herbida
Hamana herbida is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by DeLong in 1942. It belongs to the tribe Gyponini within the subfamily Iassinae. The species has been documented in Arizona, USA. Like other members of this genus, it likely inhabits vegetation where it feeds on plant sap.
Joruma
Joruma is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, and tribe Empoascini. It was established by McAtee in 1924. Members of this genus are small, delicate leafhoppers characteristic of the Typhlocybinae, a group known for reduced wing venation and plant-feeding habits. The genus is part of the diverse Membracoidea superfamily within the Auchenorrhyncha.
Kidrella
Kidrella is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, and tribe Dikraneurini. It was established by Young in 1952. Members of this genus are small, delicate leafhoppers characteristic of the Typhlocybinae, which are among the smallest and most morphologically specialized leafhoppers. The genus is part of a diverse group of sap-feeding insects within the Membracoidea superfamily.
Kyboasca splendida
Kyboasca splendida is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae. First described by Gillette in 1898, this species belongs to a genus of small, plant-feeding insects commonly known as leafhoppers. Members of this subfamily are characterized by their reduced wing venation and association with host plants.
Membracidae
treehoppers, thorn bugs, typical treehoppers
Membracidae, commonly called treehoppers or thorn bugs, is a family of approximately 3,200–3,500 species in over 400 genera within the order Hemiptera. The family is distinguished by extraordinary morphological diversity, particularly the pronounced enlargement and modification of the pronotum—the dorsal plate of the first thoracic segment—which can form thorns, horns, keels, or bizarre projections that often obscure the body and wings. This family represents the most diverse lineage within the superfamily Membracoidea, with its center of diversity in the New World tropics. Most species exhibit phytophagous habits, feeding on plant sap with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Many species engage in mutualistic relationships with ants, which protect them from predators in exchange for honeydew.
Mesamia diana
Mesamia diana is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, described by Van Duzee in 1925. It belongs to the tribe Platymetopiini, a group of leafhoppers within the large and diverse family Cicadellidae. The genus Mesamia is part of the leafhopper superfamily Membracoidea, which includes some of the most economically significant plant-feeding insects. Very little specific information is available about the biology or ecology of this particular species.
Osbornellus rotundus
Osbornellus rotundus is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Beamer in 1937. It belongs to the tribe Scaphoideini within the subfamily Deltocephalinae. The species has been recorded from multiple states in the eastern United States.
Paraphlepsius rileyi
Paraphlepsius rileyi is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Baker in 1898. It belongs to the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Pendarini. The species has been recorded from multiple U.S. states including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Kansas. Like other leafhoppers, it is a small, plant-feeding insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Polyamia interrupta
Polyamia interrupta is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. It was described by DeLong in 1916 and is currently accepted as a valid species. The genus Polyamia belongs to the tribe Deltocephalini, a diverse group of leafhoppers within the superfamily Membracoidea. Distribution records indicate occurrence in the eastern and midwestern United States.
Rabela
Rabela is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae, and tribe Alebrini. It was established by Young in 1952. As a member of the Typhlocybinae, it belongs to a group of small, often delicate leafhoppers characterized by reduced wing venation. The genus contains relatively few described species and is poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Spangbergiella viridis
Spangbergiella viridis is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae. It is classified within the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Hecalini. The species was described by Provancher in 1872. Available information is limited to taxonomic classification and basic nomenclatural data.
Telamona dorana
Telamona dorana is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1931. As a member of the genus Telamona, it shares the characteristic enlarged pronotum typical of this group. The species is part of the diverse Nearctic fauna of Smiliinae, a subfamily known for varied pronotal ornamentation. Information specific to this species remains limited in published literature.
Xestocephalus similis
Xestocephalus similis is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Peters in 1933. The species belongs to the tribe Xestocephalini within the subfamily Aphrodinae. It is currently listed as an ambiguous synonym in the Catalogue of Life, suggesting taxonomic uncertainty regarding its status relative to other Xestocephalus species. The genus Xestocephalus comprises small leafhoppers characterized by distinctive head morphology and reduced wing venation.