Description

• Boocerini is a tribe of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, within the order Hemiptera. These small, sap-feeding insects typically have a distinctive enlarged pronotum, the plate behind the head, which may form humps, ridges, or elaborate projections. Their bodies are often compact, with strong hind legs and wings folded over the abdomen. Colouration varies among species and may include shades of green, brown, grey, and black.

Range

• Boocerini is primarily Neotropical, with its diversity concentrated in tropical regions of the Americas. The tribe also occurs in Mexico, including parts of southern and western Mexico. Members may be encountered in Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region where suitable host plants and habitats occur.

Habitat

• Species inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, seasonally dry woodland, scrub, forest edges, and areas with shrubs and small trees. Many live on the stems and branches of their host plants, where their shape and colour can help them blend into the surrounding vegetation.

Diet

• Boocerini treehoppers feed on plant sap, using piercing-sucking mouthparts to draw fluids from stems and branches. Many species are associated with particular host plants, and their feeding may produce honeydew, a sugary liquid that can attract ants and other insects.