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
Region Filters
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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
Genus: Centrochares Stål, 1866
East Malaysia: Centrochares sp. DSC_3081b
Singapore: Centrochares sp. P8247193
Tribe: Centrotini Amyot and Serville, 1843
Genus: Anchon Buckton, 1902
Mozambique: Anchon sp.
Tribe: Centrotypini Haupt, 1929
Genus: Centrotypus Stål, 1866
East Malaysia: Centrotypus shelfordi Distant, 1916
Tribe: Choucentrini Yuan, in Yuan and Chou, 1988
Genus: Choucentrus Yuan, 1985
Thailand: Choucentrus sinensis Yuan, 1985
Genus: Evanchon Goding, 1930
Singapore: Evanchon maculatum Funkhouser, 1937 ♀
Singapore: Evanchon maculatum Funkhouser, 1937 ♂
Tribe: Gargarini Distant, 1908
Genus: Gargara Amyot & Serville, 1843
Singapore: Gargara nitidipennis Funkhouser, 1914
West Malaysia: Gargara nitidipennis Funkhouser, 1914
Singapore: Gargara rubrogranulata Bierman, 1910
Singapore: Gargara rubrogranulata Bierman, 1910
Singapore: Gargara cf. projecta Funkhouser 1918
Malaysia: cf. Gargara sp.
Genus: Sipylus Stål, 1866
Singapore: Sipylus dilatatus Walker, 1851
Singapore: Sipylus sp.
Genus: Tricentrus Stal, 1866
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
Genus: Hybanda Distant, 1907
West Malaysia: cf. Hybanda sp.
Genus: Pyrgauchenia Breddin, 1901
East Malaysia: Pyrgauchenia tristaniopsis Stegmann & Webb, 2002
Tribe: Leptobelini in Yuan and Chou, 2002
Genus: Leptobelus Stål, 1866
West Malaysia: Leptobelus sp.
Singapore: Leptobelus sp.
Tribe: Leptocentrini Distant, 1908
Genus: Leptocentrus Stål, 1866
Singapore: Leptocentrus sp.
East Malaysia: Leptocentrus sp.
Genus: Nilautama Distant, 1908
Singapore: Nilautama minutispina Funkhouser, 1918
Genus: Telingana Distant, 1907
Singapore: Telingana recurvata Distant, 1916
Tribe: Terentiini Haupt, 1929
Genus: Ceraon Buckton, 1903
Singapore: Ceraon cf. orientalis Funkhouser, 1918
Subfamily: Heteronotinae Goding, 1926
Tribe: Heteronotini Goding, 1926
Genus: Heteronotus Laporte, 1832
Peru: Heteronotus sp.
Subfamily: Membracinae Rafinesque, 1815
Tribe: Aconophorini Goding, 1892
Genus: Calloconophora Dietrich, 1991
Belize: Calloconophora sp.
Tribe: Hoplophorionini Goding, 1926
Genus: Metcalfiella Linnavuori, 1955
Ecuador: Metcalfiella erecta (Schmidt, 1906)
Tribe: Membracini Rafinesque, 1815
Genus: Membracis Fabricius, 1775
Ecuador: Membracis cf. tectigera Olivier, 1792
Subfamily: Smiliinae Stål, 1866
Tribe: Ceresini Goding, 1892
Genus: Poppea Stål, 1867
Peru: Poppea sp.
Tribe: Polyglyptini Goding, 1892
Genus: Adippe Stål, 1867
Belize: Adippe inaequalis Fowler, 1896
Genus: Ennya Stål, 1866
Ecuador: Ennya chrysura (Fairmaire, 1846)
Ecuador: Ennya sobria (Walker, 1851)
Ecuador: Ennya sp.
Genus: Heranice Stål, 1867
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)
