top of page

Hoppers of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER AUCHENORRYNCHA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

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

-True Hoppers (Suborder Auchenorrhyncha)

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

-Leafhoppers and Treehoppers (Superfamily Membracoidea)

-Typical Leafhoppers (Family Cicadellidae)

-Sharpshooters (Subfamily Cicadellinae)

-Tribe Cicadellini


Cicadellini is a large and diverse tribe of leafhoppers within the subfamily Cicadellinae, often referred to as "sharpshooters" due to their habit of forcibly ejecting excess fluid from their bodies. They are specialized xylem-feeders, consuming vast quantities of dilute plant sap, which makes them significant agricultural pests as they can transmit various phytopathogenic bacteria and viruses to crops.

Cicadellini Leafhopper (Unknown)

Cicadellini (Tribe)

Description

  • Cicadellini is a large and diverse tribe of sharpshooter leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Cicadellinae. Members are generally small to medium-sized, wedge-shaped insects with broad heads, prominent eyes, strong hind legs, and fully developed wings. Colouration is highly variable, ranging from green and yellow to brown, black, red, and brightly contrasting patterns.

Range

  • Cicadellini has a very broad distribution, occurring throughout the Americas and in other warm regions of the world. The tribe is well represented in Mexico, including western and southern Mexico, Guerrero, and the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

  • Species occupy a wide range of habitats, including tropical and seasonally dry forests, woodland, scrub, grassland, savanna, forest edges, agricultural areas, gardens, and roadsides. Many species are particularly conspicuous on leaves and stems in open or sunlit vegetation.

Diet

  • Cicadellini are piercing-sucking herbivores that feed primarily on xylem sap from vascular plants. They utilise grasses, herbs, shrubs, and trees, and some species can transmit plant pathogens while feeding.

bottom of page