typical treehoppers

(Tribe Smiliini)

Overview

Smiliini is a tribe of typical treehoppers. It occurs in North America and Central America. In the United States, it occurs east of the Great Plains, and in the west from central and southern California east to Colorado and New Mexico.

There are 92 Smiliini species in 9 genera worldwide, 75 species in 7 genera in North America north of Mexico, and at least 22 species in 5 genera in Minnesota.

Many Smiliini feed on species of oak.

 
typical treehopper (Tribe Smiliini)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 
Description

Females are usually less than 516 (8 mm) in length, but there are several exceptions.

The upper margin of the head is straight or very slightly curved.

The plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is very long, extending back over the abdomen. When at rest, much of the forewing is concealed beneath it. The front corners (humeral angles) are not enlarged. It does not have a distinct projection (horn) at the front in the middle. The surface is not covered with longitudinal wrinkles. The longitudinal ridge in the middle (median carina) is complete, extending from the front margin to the tip, in all genera except Ophiderma.

On the forewings (hemelytra), the R, M, and Cu veins are separated near the base. Large cells separate the veins near the base, so that they do not appear crowded. The R4+5 vein is merged with the M1+2 vein toward the base before the M fork. On the hindwing, the R4+5 vein is merged with the M1+2 vein for a great distance except in some tropical species.

With few exceptions, it is not possible to identify Smiliini nymphs to the species level.

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

12/13/2024    
Taxonomy

Order

Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids, and allies)

Suborder

Auchenorrhyncha (true hoppers)

Infraorder

Cicadomorpha (spittlebugs, cicadas, leafhoppers and treehoppers)

Superfamily

Membracoidea (leafhoppers and treehoppers)

Family

Membracidae (typical treehoppers)

Subfamily

Smiliinae

   

Subordinate Taxa

Genus Ashmeadea

Genus Atymna

Genus Atymnina

Genus Cyrtolobus

Genus Godingia

Genus Grandolobus

Genus Ophiderma

Genus Smilia

Genus Xantholobus

   

Synonyms

 

   

Common Names

The tribe Smiliini has no common name. The common name of the family Membracidae is typical treehoppers, and it is applied here for convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Hemelytron

The forewing of true bugs (Order Hemiptera), thickened at the base and membranous at the tip. Plural: hemelytra.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

 

 

 

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Alfredo Colon

typical treehopper (Tribe Smiliini)   typical treehopper (Tribe Smiliini)
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Alfredo Colon
6/2/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

typical treehopper (Tribe Smiliini)
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Created: 12/13/2024

Last Updated:

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