Treehopper
Guides
Telonaca
Telonaca is a small genus of treehoppers (family Membracidae) comprising two described species: Telonaca alta and Telonaca ramona. It belongs to the tribe Telamonini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group characterized by pronounced pronotal modifications. The genus was established by Ball in 1918. Members of this genus exhibit the enlarged, often elaborately shaped pronotum typical of their family, which serves various ecological functions including camouflage and predator deterrence.
Telonaca ramona pasadena
Telonaca ramona pasadena is a subspecies of treehopper in the family Membracidae, first described by Ball in 1931. It belongs to the tribe Telamonini within the subfamily Smiliinae. Treehoppers in this genus are characterized by their enlarged pronotum, which forms distinctive helmet-like or thorn-like structures. The subspecies epithet "pasadena" suggests a geographic association with the Pasadena area of California.
Telonaca ramona ramona
Telonaca ramona ramona is a subspecies of treehopper in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1918. It belongs to the tribe Telamonini within the subfamily Smiliinae. Treehoppers in this genus are characterized by their enlarged, often elaborately modified pronotum that extends over the thorax. This subspecies has been recorded from California.
Thelia
locust treehopper (referring to T. bimaculata)
Thelia is a genus of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) comprising at least two described species, including Thelia bimaculata (locust treehopper) and Thelia uhleri. Members of this genus are associated with woody host plants, particularly leguminous trees in the genus Robinia. The genus was established by Amyot & Audinet-Serville in 1843 and is classified within the tribe Telamonini.
Tortistilus
Tortistilus is a genus of treehoppers (Membracidae: Ceresini) established by Caldwell in 1949. The genus includes at least one well-documented species, T. wickhami, which has been studied in California and Mexican vineyards as a potential vector of grapevine red blotch virus. Members of this genus are morphologically cryptic and difficult to distinguish from related genera such as Spissistilus without molecular diagnostics. The genus belongs to the diverse New World treehopper fauna.
Tortistilus abnorma
Tortistilus abnorma is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Caldwell in 1949. The species has been documented in North Carolina and Texas based on distribution records. Like other members of Membracidae, it possesses an enlarged pronotum that extends over the body. The specific epithet "abnorma" suggests distinctive morphological characteristics, though detailed descriptions of these features are not readily available in the provided sources.
Tortistilus albidosparsus
Tortistilus albidosparsus is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Stål in 1859. It belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group known for diverse pronotal modifications. The genus Tortistilus is part of the Nearctic treehopper fauna, with records from western North America. Species in this genus are characterized by distinctive pronotal structures typical of the Ceresini.
Tortistilus collinus
Tortistilus collinus is a treehopper species described by Van Duzee in 1908, belonging to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae. The genus Tortistilus is part of the diverse family Membracidae, known for their highly modified pronota that often resemble plant parts or other structures. This species is recorded from California, USA, where it occurs among other members of its genus.
Tortistilus curvatus
Tortistilus curvatus is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Caldwell in 1949. It belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group characterized by diverse pronotal modifications. The genus Tortistilus is part of the Nearctic treehopper fauna, with this species recorded from the western United States. Like other members of Membracidae, it possesses an enlarged pronotum that extends over the body, though specific morphological details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Tortistilus inermis
Tortistilus inermis is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Fabricius in 1775. It belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae. The genus Tortistilus is part of a diverse group of treehoppers characterized by pronotal modifications, though the specific morphology of T. inermis is not detailed in available sources. The species has been recorded across western and central North America.
Tortistilus lateralis
Tortistilus lateralis is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Funkhouser in 1936. It belongs to the subfamily Smiliinae and tribe Ceresini. The species has been recorded from Illinois and North Carolina in the United States. Treehoppers in this family are known for their enlarged pronotum that often extends into elaborate structures, though specific morphological details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Tortistilus minutus
Tortistilus minutus is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, first described by Caldwell in 1949. The species belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae. Distribution records indicate occurrence in the northern Great Plains region of North America, specifically Manitoba, Montana, and North Dakota. As with other treehoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Tortistilus pacificus
Tortistilus pacificus is a species of treehopper (family Membracidae) first described by Van Duzee in 1908. The species belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae. As a member of the Hemiptera, it possesses piercing-sucking mouthparts typical of true bugs. Very little specific ecological or behavioral information has been published for this particular species.
Tortistilus trilineatus
A treehopper species in the tribe Ceresini, characterized by three longitudinal stripes on the pronotum. Described by Funkhouser in 1918, this species occurs in the southeastern United States. Like other members of the family Membracidae, it possesses an enlarged pronotum that extends over the thorax. The specific epithet "trilineatus" refers to the three-lined pattern visible on its dorsal surface.
Tortistilus wickhami
A North American treehopper in the family Membracidae, recently documented for the first time in Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Previously known from the western and southwestern United States, this species was collected from grapevines in Valle de Guadalupe vineyards during 2023. Its presence in commercial vineyards raises concerns about potential economic impact, as it is suspected to be a candidate vector for grapevine red blotch virus.
treehopperMembracidaevineyard-pestgrapevine-red-blotch-virusagricultural-pestMexico-first-recordBaja-CaliforniaValle-de-GuadalupeVitis-viniferaDNA-barcoding-identification2023-detectioneconomic-entomologyplant-virus-vectorSmiliinaeCeresiniHemipteraCicadomorphaNorth-Americawestern-United-Statesinvasive-potentialviticulturewine-grape-pestTrichaetipyga
Trichaetipyga is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae, and tribe Ceresini. The genus was established by Caldwell in 1949. It is placed within the diverse Membracidae family, which is characterized by enlarged pronota that often form elaborate projections. As a genus-level taxon, it serves as a grouping for species sharing derived morphological features, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Trichaetipyga juniperina
A small treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1937. The genus Trichaetipyga is characterized by distinctive pronotal projections. As a member of the tribe Ceresini, it belongs to a group of treehoppers often associated with woody host plants. The specific epithet "juniperina" suggests a historical association with juniper, though this requires verification.
Tropidarnis tectigera
Tropidarnis tectigera is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae. It is the sole species in its genus. The species was described by Fowler in 1895. It is known from limited observations in the southwestern United States and parts of Central America.
Tumecauda schaefferi
Tumecauda schaefferi is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, subfamily Stegaspidinae. It was described by Goding in 1930. The genus Tumecauda is characterized by a pronounced caudal (tail-like) projection extending from the dorsal surface of the pronotum, a distinctive feature among treehoppers. Very little is known about the biology or ecology of this species, which appears to be rarely encountered and poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Tylocentrus quadricornis
Tylocentrus quadricornis is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, subfamily Centrotinae, described by Funkhouser in 1919. It belongs to the tribe Platycentrini, characterized by exposed scutella and relatively unmodified pronota compared to other membracid subfamilies. The species is distributed across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the primitive centrotine body plan with reduced pronotal ornamentation.
Tylopelta gibbera
Tylopelta gibbera is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, characterized by its use of vibrational communication during mating displays. Males produce substrate-borne signals transmitted through host plant stems to locate receptive females, with documented cases of vibrational masking when multiple males compete. The species maintains mutualistic relationships with ants, which defend nymphs in exchange for honeydew.
Vanduzea
Vanduzea is a genus of treehoppers (family Membracidae) comprising approximately 12 described species. The genus was named in honor of American entomologist Edward Payson Van Duzee. Species within this genus are associated with various host plants, with documented associations including Robinia (Fabaceae), Amorpha canescens, and Grindelia ciliata. Some species exhibit ant-tended behavior and utilize abandoned cavities of wood-boring insects.
Vanduzea albifrons
Vanduzea albifrons is a species of treehopper described by Fowler in 1895. It belongs to the family Membracidae, a group of insects known for their highly modified pronotum that often extends into elaborate projections. The species has been documented in North and Central America, with distribution records from California, Baja California, and Bocas del Toro. Like other treehoppers, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plant associations have not been documented in the available sources.
Vanduzea arquata
black locust treehopper
Vanduzea arquata, commonly known as the black locust treehopper, is a North American treehopper species in the family Membracidae. It is strongly associated with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and related Robinia species, with females laying eggs in tree buds. Nymphs have been documented using abandoned cavities of the locust twig borer. The species is attended by ants, including Formica subsericea, which tend the treehoppers for honeydew.
Vanduzea laeta
Vanduzea laeta is a small treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Frederic Webster Goding in 1893. Adults are active primarily from May through August. The species is recognized as a pest of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and other Helianthus species, feeding on plant sap. It is frequently confused with the related species V. segmentata.
Vanduzea nolina
Vanduzea nolina is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1932. The genus Vanduzea is characterized by species that are obligately associated with specific host plants, with adults and nymphs typically found on stems and in leaf axils. This species is named after its host plant genus Nolina (beargrass), indicating a specialized plant-insect relationship. Like other members of the tribe Amastrini, V. nolina likely exhibits ant-tended behavior, where honeydew-producing nymphs are protected by ants in exchange for nutritional rewards.
Vestistilus ancora
Vestistilus ancora is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Ball in 1937. It belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae. The genus Vestistilus contains species characterized by distinctive pronotal modifications. Observations of this species remain limited, with most records originating from Arizona.
Vestistilus patruelis
Vestistilus patruelis is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, first described by Carl Stål in 1864. The species belongs to the tribe Ceresini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group characterized by often elaborate pronotal modifications. Treehoppers in this family are known for their diverse and frequently ornate pronotal structures that extend over the body. As a member of the Membracidae, V. patruelis is presumed to be a phloem-feeding insect utilizing plant vascular tissues.
Xantholobus
Xantholobus is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, established by Van Duzee in 1908. The genus belongs to the tribe Smiliini within the subfamily Smiliinae and contains approximately 14 described species. Like other treehoppers, members of this genus possess an enlarged and often elaborately modified pronotum that extends over the thorax, a defining characteristic of the family Membracidae. Species in this genus are found in the Nearctic region, with records from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Xantholobus altus
Xantholobus altus is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1932. It belongs to the tribe Smiliini, a group of Nearctic treehoppers characterized by pronounced pronotal modifications. The genus Xantholobus contains multiple species distributed in western and southwestern North America. Xantholobus altus has been recorded from Arizona.
Xantholobus arizonensis
Xantholobus arizonensis is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, first described by Funkhouser in 1943. The genus Xantholobus belongs to the tribe Smiliini within the subfamily Smiliinae. As with other treehoppers, this species possesses an enlarged and often elaborately modified pronotum that extends over the thorax. Very little specific information is documented about this particular species beyond its taxonomic description and geographic association with Arizona.
Xantholobus coconinus
Xantholobus coconinus is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1932. It belongs to the tribe Smiliini within the subfamily Smiliinae, a group characterized by diverse pronotal modifications. The genus Xantholobus occurs in North America, with this species recorded from Arizona. Like other membracids, it possesses an enlarged pronotum that extends over the thorax and often exhibits plant-mimicking or other specialized morphological forms.
Xantholobus hirsutus
Xantholobus hirsutus is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, described by Ball in 1932. Like other members of the tribe Smiliini, it possesses an enlarged and often elaborately modified pronotum that extends over the body. The genus Xantholobus is part of the diverse New World treehopper fauna, with this species known from the southwestern United States. Treehoppers in this group are characterized by their distinctive pronotal shapes and association with woody host plants.
Xantholobus intermedius
Xantholobus intermedius is a species of treehopper in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae. The species was described by Emmons in 1855 and is currently accepted as valid. Like other members of the genus Xantholobus, this species possesses the characteristic enlarged pronotum that extends posteriorly over the abdomen, a defining feature of treehoppers. The genus Xantholobus is classified within the tribe Smiliini, which comprises numerous genera of primarily Nearctic treehoppers.
Xantholobus lateralis
Xantholobus lateralis is a treehopper species in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae. It was described by Edward Payton Van Duzee in 1908. The species occurs in eastern and central North America and has been documented feeding on oak and birch trees.
Xantholobus muticus
Xantholobus muticus is a North American treehopper in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae. Adults measure 7–8 mm in length and exhibit variable coloration from black to pale yellowish-brown. The species is strictly associated with oak trees (Quercus spp.), feeding exclusively on their sap. It ranges across eastern and central North America from Manitoba to Quebec and south to Texas and Florida.
Xantholobus nigrocinctus
A Nearctic treehopper species in the tribe Smiliini, characterized by its distinctive pronotal morphology. The species epithet "nigrocinctus" (Latin for "black-banded") refers to color pattern features. Like other members of the genus Xantholobus, it possesses the enlarged, often elaborately shaped pronotum typical of Membracidae. The species was described by Van Duzee in 1908 and is part of the diverse Smiliinae radiation in North America.