Treehoppers
Guides
Centrotinae
Centrotinae is the largest subfamily of treehoppers (Membracidae) and the only subfamily with a worldwide distribution. It comprises approximately 1,350 species in 216 genera. The subfamily is characterized by morphological features including a posterior pronotal process that typically does not conceal the scutellum, and forewings with a truncated clavus and broad apical limbus. Centrotinae is considered the most primitive membracid subfamily based on fossil evidence and biogeographic patterns.
Ceresini
Buffalo Treehoppers and allies
Ceresini is a tribe of treehoppers within the subfamily Smiliinae (family Membracidae). It is notable among smiliine tribes as the only one with Palaearctic representatives; most other Smiliinae tribes are restricted to the Americas. The tribe includes the genus Ceresa, known as buffalo treehoppers, as well as genera such as Ilithucia, which are primarily distributed across the Andean highlands of South America. Members of this tribe exhibit the characteristic enlarged and often elaborately modified pronotum typical of Membracidae.
Darninae
Darninae is a subfamily of treehoppers (family Membracidae) comprising approximately 30 genera arranged in five tribes: Cymbomorphini, Darnini, Hemikypthini, Hyphinoini, and Procyrtini. The subfamily is predominantly Neotropical in distribution and is characterized by diverse pronotal modifications. Members are phytophagous, with some species documented feeding on Asteraceae and Solanaceae. The subfamily Darninae represents one of several major lineages within Membracidae that diversified during the Tertiary period following the isolation of South America.
Enchenopa
Enchenopa is a genus of treehoppers (family Membracidae) containing more than 50 described species. The genus underwent major revision in 2014, resulting in 51 recognized species. Members are characterized by their enlarged, often ornate pronotum typical of treehoppers. The Enchenopa binotata species complex has been extensively studied as a model system for sympatric speciation through host plant shifts, with different species or populations specialized on distinct host plants and exhibiting assortative mating based on plant-associated vibrational signals.
Gargara
Gargara is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, subfamily Centrotinae, tribe Gargarini. The genus was established by Amyot and Audinet-Serville in 1843. Species in this genus are distributed across the Palearctic region, with documented occurrences in Russia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Denmark, and Norway. The Gargara genistae species group contains cryptic species that are morphologically nearly identical but distinguished by male calling signal patterns.
Gargarini
Gargarini is a tribe of treehoppers (family Membracidae, subfamily Centrotinae) containing over 400 species across 28 genera. First described by William Lucas Distant in 1908, it represents one of the most species-rich tribes within the primitive subfamily Centrotinae, which occurs in both Old and New Worlds. Members are characterized by highly diverse pronotal structures, including suprahumeral horns and posterior pronotal processes that range from simple to complex morphologies. Molecular phylogenetic studies place Gargarini as sister to the tribes Leptocentrini, Hypsauchenini, Centrotini, and Leptobelini, with diversification estimated in the Late Cretaceous approximately 79.6 million years ago.
Hoplophorionini
Hoplophorionini is a tribe of treehoppers (Membracidae) comprising 105 species in 10 genera, distributed from Canada to Chile with highest diversity in the Neotropics. Members are characterized by elaborate pronotal modifications and, uniquely among Membracidae, are apparently subsocial and lack mutualistic associations with honeydew-collecting ants. Parental investment includes specialized defensive kicking behavior and construction of extra-ovipositional punctures in host tissue through which nymphs feed.
Polyglyptini
Polyglyptini is a tribe of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, subfamily Smiliinae. The tribe contains at least four genera—Bryantopsis, Entylia, Polyglyptini, and Publilia—with approximately nine described species. Members exhibit the characteristic enlarged pronotum typical of Membracidae, though specific morphological features distinguishing this tribe from related groups remain poorly documented in available literature.
Smiliinae
Smiliinae is a large subfamily of treehoppers (Membracidae) comprising approximately 100 genera organized into 10 tribes, with the majority of diversity concentrated in the Americas. The subfamily includes approximately 140 described species, though this likely underrepresents true diversity. Members are characterized by elaborate pronotal modifications that produce bizarre shapes including thorn-like projections, ant-mimicking forms, and other structures whose functions remain incompletely understood. The nominotypical tribe Smiliini contains 169 species in 23 genera and is predominantly Nearctic in distribution, with evolutionary origins traced to Central America and Mexico followed by multiple dispersals to temperate North America.