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Family Membracidae - Typical Treehoppers

treehopper from backyard - Xantholobus muticus

Spissistilus festinus (?) on Alfalfa plants in Phoenix, AZ. - Spissistilus festinus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Auchenorrhyncha (True Hoppers)

Infraorder Cicadomorpha (Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, and Treehoppers)

Superfamily Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)

Family Membracidae (Typical Treehoppers)

Other Common Names

Thorn Bugs

Pronunciation

mem-BRAY-ci-dee

Explanation of Names

Membracidae Rafinesque 1815

from Membracis Fabricius 1775, the type genus

Numbers

~270 spp. in ~60 genera in our area(1), ~3,500 spp. in ~430 genera worldwide, arranged in 45 tribes 9 subfamilies(2)(3)

checklists of local faunas:(4)(5)(6)(7) ‒more sources listed in (8)

Overview of our fauna* ‒taxa not yet in the guide; questionable records omitted

Family MEMBRACIDAE

Subfamily CENTROTINAE

Tribe Centrodontini Centrodontus · Multareis · Multareoides

Tribe Centrotini Centrotus

Tribe Gargarini Gargara

Tribe Platycentrini Platycentrus · Tylocentrus

Subfamily DARNINAE

Tribe Darnini *Darnis · Hebetica · Stictopelta

Subfamily STEGASPIDINAE

Tribe Microcentrini Microcentrus · Tumecauda

Subfamily MEMBRACINAE

Tribe Aconophorini Aconophora

Tribe Hoplophorionini Platycotis · Umbonia

Tribe Hypsoprorini Hypsoprora · Philya · Scalmophorus

Tribe Membracini Campylenchia · Enchenopa · Leioscyta · *Membracis · Tylopelta

Subfamily SMILIINAE

Not placed to tribe: Antianthe · Tropidarnis

Tribe Acutalini Acutalis

Tribe Amastrini Amastris · Bajulata · Idioderma · Vanduzea

Tribe Ceresini Anisostylus · *Antonae · Hadrophallus · *Paraceresa · Parantonae · Spissistilus · Stictocephala · Stictolobus · Tortistilus · Trichaetipyga · Vestistilus

Tribe Micrutalini Micrutalis

Tribe Polyglyptini *Aphetea · Bryantopsis · Entylia · Polyglypta · Publilia

Tribe Smiliini Ashmeadea · Atymna · Cyrtolobus · Grandolobus · Ophiderma · Smilia · Xantholobus

Tribe Telamonini Archasia · Carynota · Glossonotus · Heliria · Palonica · Telamona · Telamonanthe · Telonaca · Thelia

Not yet in the guide:

Antonae Stål 1867 [1 sp., WA‒CA]

Aphetea Fowler 1895 [1 sp., CA]

Darnis Fabricius 1803 [1 questionable record, CA]

Membracis Fabricius 1775 [2 spp., CA FL]

Paraceresa Kopp & Yonke 1979 [1 sp., w.NA]

questionable records: Bolbonota Amyot & Serville ?FL, Notocera Amyot & Serville ?CO, Trachytalis Fowler ?CA

Size

2‒20 mm (most <12 mm)(9)

Identification

pronotum extends back over abdomen and often covers head

interactive key to genera(1)

visual guide [needs update]

illustrated checklist of FL spp. in (5)

annotated checklist of QC spp.(10)

Key to tribes

Membracidae of Texas (Quinn 2017)

Food

Most spp. are host-specific and feed on trees and shrubs, some on herbaceous plants

Remarks

Some spp. exhibit presocial behavior ‒adults often stay near nymphs, tending them. Many have mutualistic relationships with ants. Only a few are considered pests; most of the damage is caused by egg-laying.

Internet References

Species page(11)

Works Cited

1.	Richness of the Nearctic treehopper fauna (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae and Membracidae) Deitz L.L., Wallace M.S. 2012. Zootaxa 3423: 1–26.

2.	Deitz L.L., Wallace M.S. (team leaders), et al. (2010‒) Treehoppers: Aetalionidae, Melizoderidae, and Membracidae (Hemiptera)

3.	Dietrich C.H. (2006‒) Treehoppers

4.	Checklist and host plants of the treehoppers of North Carolina Dietrich C.H., Rothschild M.J., Deitz L.L. 1999. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 101: 242‒262.

5.	Rothschild M.J. (2012) A checklist of the Membracidae of Florida

6.	Occurrence of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae:Smiliinae) on oaks in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 2004–2006 Wallace M.S. 2008. J. Insect Sci. 8(59): 1‒16.

7.	Treehopper diversity (Hemiptera: Membracidae) of Little Orleans, Allegany Co., Maryland Bartlett C.R., Deitz L.L., Rothschild M.J., Wallace M.S. 2008. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 101: 130‒143.

8.	Checklist of treehoppers of Panama (Hem.: Membracidae) with a list of checklists and keys to the Nearctic and Neotropical fauna Flynn D.J. 2012. Zootaxa 3405: 35–63.

9.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

10.	Pilon et al. (1988‒2015) Entomofaune du Québec

11.	Dmitriev D.A. (2003‒) 3I interactive keys and taxonomic databases

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Stephen_WV, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov, KenW, antarctica
Last updated 22 June, 2025 - 1:07pm

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