Numbers
7 species in 2 genera in North America (
nearctica.com)
Identification
similar in size and appearance to membracid treehoppers (Microcentrus perditus has two large protruberances on its head that resemble ears)
Range
neotropics and southern half of North America (north to New York, Minnesota, and southern Quebec & Ontario)
Habitat
mixed or deciduous woodlands containing host plants
Food
northern species feed on the leaves of oak and hickory
Remarks
individuals secrete honeydew, and are often attended by ants or other insects
guide page creation based on Andy Hamilton's identification of
this imageInternet References
pinned adult images of
Microcentrus perditus? (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
live adult image of
Aetalion species from the neotropics (Chris Dietrich, Illinois Natural History Survey)
behavior article on interaction of
Aetalion reticulatum with ants and stingless bees (Mário Almeida-Neto
et al, Sociobiology journal, California State U.)
sample list of genera and species (NCBI Taxonomy Browser, U.S. National Institutes of Health)
common name reference (David Maddison, Tree of Life, tolweb.org)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 12 December, 2005 - 3:16pm
Last updated 12 December, 2005 - 4:20pm
