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Observations on Pronotal Development in Ennya and Poppea (2024)
2024-03-26
Miranda, X.; Orlich-Ramírez, C. 2024a, Imaginal moulting behaviour in Ennya chrysura (Hemiptera: Membracidae), Finding new questions and insights into the extreme morphology of treehoppers. Animal Behaviour [Special Issue: Tribute to the Eberhards (available online 26 February 2024) (print out of online copy paged 1-12).; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.01.027]

[To gain insights into the development of elaborate pronota in adult treehoppers, these researchers filmed the processes of imaginal ecdysis and postecdysis in Ennya chrysura, discovering that behavioral as well as hydraulic mechanisms play a role. Observations of the timing and coordination of abdominal contractions during wing and pronotal expansion supported these findings. Individuals of E. chrysura exhibited a two-phase pronotal expansion, unlike the one-phase expansion so far observed in other kinds of insects. Because wing expansion precedes pronotal expansion, it seems likely that internal mechanisms likely control the flow of hemolymph into the pronotum. This publication includes wonderful color images documenting pronotal development in E. chrysura.]

Sugiura, K.; Terano, T; Adachi, H.; Hagiwara, J.; Matsuda. K.; Nishida, K.; Paul Hanson, P.; Kondo, S.; Gotoh, H. 2024a. Histological observation of helmet development in the treehopper Poppea capricornis (Insecta: Hemiptera: Membracidae). Zoological Science 41(2): [1]–10. [Open access publication.]

[This study focused on the developmental process of the relatively complex pronotum of Poppea capricornis during its nymphal stages through to the adult. Moreover, the work compares and contrasts the pronotal development in Poppea to that in Antianthe expansa, in which the pronotum is relatively simple and rooflike. The study reports that the suprahumeral horns of adult P. capricornis are apparently formed using nymphal suprahumeral horn buds as a molds, however, no such nymphal molds were found for the formation of the posterior pronotal process of the adults.]

More Publications on the Distribution, Interactions, and Systematics of Treehoppers (2023)
2024-03-06
Bai, H.; Zhang, J.; Dietrich, C. H.; Li, Y.; Yuan, X. 2023a. Structural characteristics of mitochondrial genomes of eight treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Centrotinae) and their phylogenetic implications. Genes 14(7): [1-11 (pdf of online version)] [Available online (open access)]

[Phylogenetic analyses based on new data for 8 species were largely consistent with previous analyses derived from morphological and partial nuclear genome data. One significant difference is that the new evidence suggests the tribe Leptocentrini may be polyphyletic, rather than monophyletic. This study also suggests that the genera Antialcidas, Leptocentrus, and Tricentrus (which appear to be polyphyletic groups) need revision.]

Gonzalez-Mozo, L. C.; Ware, J. L. 2023a. Review of Cyphotes Burmeister, 1835 (Hemiptera: Membracidae) with the description of a related new genus. Zootaxa 5380 (6): 501–525. [Available online (open access).]

Fig. 1 Allocyphotes insoliata, male, lateral aspect, Ecuador. © Copyright 2006, by Christopher H. Dietrich.

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[This review of Cyphotes (tribe Darnini) limits this genus to two species: C. nodosa (= Aspona bullata, new syn.) and C. quadrinodosa (reinstated) and describes the new genus Allocyphotes with A. insoliata (the type-speices: Fig. 1, above), A. pompanoni and A. colombiensis, new combinations (all formerly in Cyphotes) and three new species from Ecuador: A. flavus, A. waoraniorum, and A. robertoi. The paper includes illustrated keys and descriptions to identify these taxa.]

Li, F. E.; Yang, L.; Long, J.-K.; Chang, Z.-M.; Chen, X.-S. 2023a. Revisiting the phylogenetic relationship and evolution of Gargarini with mitochondrial genome (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Centrotinae). International Journal of Molecular Science 24(1): [1-14 (based on pagination of copy printed from on online version)] [Available online (open access)]

[Based on a very limited number of taxa in the tribe Gargarini (5 genera: 6 species), this research provides a preliminary basis for future work on the phylogeny of the tribe Leptocentrini.]

Petrašisūnas, A. 2023a. Distribution of Gargara genistae (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha, Membracidae) in Lithuania. Bulletin of the Lithuanian Entomological Society 7(35):10-15.

[This work reports that Gargara genistae currently occurs mainly in the southern and southeastern regions of Lithuania, but, as yet, has not detected in the central and western regions. G. genistae was first recorded in Lithuania in 2021 (Petrašiūnas A. 2021a. Gargara genistae and Stictocephala bisonia (Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha, Membracidae) new for Lithuanian fauna. Bulletin of the Lithuanian Entomological Society 5 (33): 23–25).]

Powell, E, C.; Halbert, S. E.; Deeter, L.; Keller, O. 2023a. An annotated and illustrated catalog of the primary type material of Hemiptera deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Zootaxa 5355(1): 1-107. [https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5355.1]

[This collection holds the holotype of one treehopper species: Guayaquila contorta Dietrich, 1991, in Dietrich & Deitz, 1991a: 36. Holotype: male, from Panama. Taxonomic placement: Membracidae: Membracinae: Aconophorini.]

Shoenberger, T. W.; Fowler Finn, K. D. 2023a. Seasonal variation in the strength and consistency of tritrophic interactions among treehoppers, plants, and ants may favor generalist relationships. Arthropod-Plant Interactions: [Published online: 1 Dec 2023:[1-15 (pdf of online version); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-023-10012-x]

[Conducted in a Missouri prairie, this research investigated variation in tritrophic interactions among: (1) a treehopper Entylia carinata; (2) three of its common host plants (Silphium perfoliatum, Rudbeckia laciniata, and Cirsium discolor); and three ant mutualists of E. carinata (Crematogaster cerasi, Prenolepis imparis, and Camponotus pennsylvanicus) over a 3-year period. Tritrophic associations varied seasonally, but were relatively consistent over the duration of the study. Ants showed especially pervasive effects on populations of the treehopper, including its presence, abundance, and aggregating and nesting behaviors.]

Sowmyashree, M.S; Prakash, H.T; Prema, G.U. 2023a. Ecological association of diversity of cowbugs-ants and aphids-ants species in pigeonpea and safflower ecosystems. Indian Journal of Ecology 50(2):452-461.

[Illustrated with 38 color plates, this paper documents the ecology and life history of treehoppers (or “cow bugs”) occurring on pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in India. Of the three treehopper species observed during the study, the most common was Otinotus sp. (~76%), followed by Oxyrhachis apicalis (~20%) and Leptocentrus sp. (~4%). All three species were tended by only one kind of ant (Camponotus compressus), however, the two more abundant species (both gregarious in habit) were more frequently ant-attended than the Leptocentrus sp. (a solitary feeder that moves from plant to plant). The paper includes notes on these treehoppers and their associated ants on other host plants in India.]

Reminder: Check the archive of past news for additional news and literature on Treehoppers.

Polyodontotrochus: New Neotropical Treehopper Genus
2024-03-04
González-Mozo, L.; McKamey, S. H. 2024a. A new genus and four new species of Darnini (Hemiptera: Membracidae) from South America. Zootaxa 5415(1): 169–180. [https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5415.1.8].

Figs. 1-4. Polyodontotrochus spp. (anterior, dorsal, and lateral aspects): 1, P. elevatus; 2, P. auriculatus; 3, P. extentapalaestrus; 4, P. inpa. Fig. 5. P. elevatus, hind trochanters (note that the inner surfaces are flattened and bear numerous studlike dentae). [Photos by Alyssa Seemann, NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT (USDA 2024)].

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[In this publication, the new genus Polyodontotrochus is described and illustrated along with its four new species: P. elevatus (type species) from Ecuador (Fig. 1), P. auriculatus (Fig. 2) and P. extentapalaestrus (Fig. 3), both from French Guiana, and P. inpa (Fig. 4) from Brazil. Females of the new genus are unknown. In males of the genus, however, the inner surfaces of the metathoracic trochanters are flattened, bearing numerous studlike, sclerotized dentae (Fig. 5)--a feature not previously observed in any other treehopper genus.]

2024 Update to Flynn’s 2012 Checklist of Treehoppers of Panama
2024-03-03
Flynn, D. J. 2024a. Updated checklist of treehoppers of Panama (Hemiptera: Membracidae) with plant associations. Zootaxa 5415(1):1–55. [https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5415.1.1].

[This publication increases the number of treehopper taxa known for Panama to 100 genera, 313 species, and 2 subspecies. The paper provides the known province distribution data for each species and an extensive bibliography (more than 250 references) listing many published checklists and keys for identifying Nearctic and Neotropical treehoppers. Plant taxa associated with Panama treehoppers are listed by plant family and species indicating which treehopper taxa are associated with each plant. Flynn’s (2012a) checklist included 97 treehopper genera, 269 species, and 2 subspecies.

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