Membracidae Checklist: Treehoppers
Treehoppers belong to the family Membracidae and their nymphs are sometimes also referred to as thorn bugs. They have an enlarged and often ornate pronotum (like a helmet). Treehoppers feed on sap, and any excess is excreted as honeydew which attracts ants. The ants provide protection from predators, forming a symbiosis with the treehoppers.
Most were identified with the kind assistance of Munetoshi Maruyama, Stuart McKamey, Matthew Wallace, Eli Wyman on Reddit, and Varen Tan. Some references were also made from NCSU Insect Museum: Membracidae. Thank you!
All photos are of live subjects shot in the field, with the lateral view selected where available. Click on individual photos for larger views and views from other angles. As specimens were not collected, identifications were done purely based on photographs and may not be 100% accurate.
This page will be updated regularly, please let me know if you spot any mistakes.
View my complete Flickr photo set: Membracidae – Treehoppers.
Treehopper Related Links
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Class: Insecta Linnaeus, 1758
Order: Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758
Superfamily: Membracoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Superfamily: Membracoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Family: Aetalionidae Spinola, 1850
Family: Melizoderidae Deitz and Dietrich, 1993
Family: Membracidae Rafinesque, 1815?
Subfamily: Centrotinae Amyot and Serville, 1843
Tribe: Centrocharesini Goding, 1931
East Malaysia: Centrochares sp. DSC_3081b
Singapore: Centrochares sp. P8247193
Tribe: Centrotini Amyot and Serville, 1843
Mozambique: Anchon sp.
Tribe: Centrotypini Haupt, 1929
East Malaysia: Centrotypus shelfordi Distant, 1916
Tribe: Choucentrini Yuan, in Yuan and Chou, 1988
Singapore: Evanchon maculatum Funkhouser, 1937 ♀
Singapore: Evanchon maculatum Funkhouser, 1937 ♂
Thailand: Choucentrus sinensis Yuan, 1985
Tribe: Gargarini Distant, 1908
Singapore: Gargara rubrogranulata Bierman, 1910
Singapore: Gargara rubrogranulata Bierman, 1910
Singapore: Sipylus sp.
Singapore: Sipylus dilatatus Walker, 1851
Singapore: Gargara nitidipennis Funkhouser, 1914
West Malaysia: Gargara nitidipennis Funkhouser, 1914
Singapore: Gargara cf. projecta Funkhouser 1918
Malaysia: cf. Gargara sp.
Singapore: Tricentrus fulgidus Funkhouser 1929
West Malaysia: cf. Nondenticentrus/Tricentrus sp.
Singapore: cf. Tricentrus sp.
West Malaysia: cf. Tricentrus sp.
Singapore: cf. Tricentrus sp.
Tribe: Hypsaucheniini Distant, 1908
West Malaysia: cf. Hybanda sp.
East Malaysia: Pyrgauchenia tristaniopsis Stegmann & Webb, 2002
Tribe: Leptobelini in Yuan and Chou, 2002
West Malaysia: Leptobelus sp.
Singapore: Leptobelus sp.
Tribe: Leptocentrini Distant, 1908
Singapore: Leptocentrus sp.
East Malaysia: Leptocentrus sp.
Singapore: Nilautama minutispina Funkhouser, 1918
Singapore: Telingana sp.
Tribe: Terentiini Haupt, 1929
Singapore: Ceraon cf. orientalis Funkhouser, 1918
Subfamily: Heteronotinae Goding, 1926
Tribe: Heteronotini Goding, 1926
Peru: Heteronotus sp.
Subfamily: Membracinae Rafinesque, 1815
Tribe: Aconophorini Goding, 1892
Belize: Calloconophora sp.
Tribe: Hoplophorionini Goding, 1926
Ecuador: Metcalfiella erecta (Schmidt, 1906)
Tribe: Membracini Rafinesque, 1815
Ecuador: Membracis cf. tectigera Olivier, 1792
Subfamily: Smiliinae Stål, 1866
Tribe: Ceresini Goding, 1892
Peru: Poppea sp.
Tribe: Polyglyptini Goding, 1892
Belize: Adippe inaequalis Fowler, 1896
Ecuador: Ennya sobria (Walker, 1851)
Ecuador: Ennya chrysura (Fairmaire, 1846)
Ecuador: Ennya sp.
Ecuador: Heranice sp.
Nymphs
Thailand: Unidentified
Singapore: Unidentified
Singapore: Unidentified
Singapore: Unidentified
West Malaysia: Unidentified
Peru: Heteronotinae (big), Tragopini (small)
Moulting
Ecuador: Membracis cf. tectigera Olivier, 1792
Ecuador: Ennya sobria (Walker, 1851)
