True Treehoppers and Thorn Bugs (Membracidae)

 

The family Membracidae contains 9 subfamilies, 428 genera, and over 3,450 species. Although they are found on all continents except Antarctica, eight of the subfamilies are restricted to the New World. Naturally absent from Madagascar and New Zealand. These are small hemipterans with enlarged and often ornate pronotum (a plate-like structure covering the dorsal surface of the thorax), which allows effective camouflage; many members of this family resemble plant thorns. Treehoppers feed on plant sap, and excrete excesses as honeydew. Some species have developed mutualistic relationships with ants which collect honeydew and guard the treehoppers.

 

		Two-horned Treehopper (Stictocephala diceros)
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