Membracidae

Membracidae, commonly known as treehoppers, are a family of small to medium-sized sap-feeding insects in the order Hemiptera. They are most distinctive for a pronotum that typically extends over the body, often forming elaborate horns or other shapes. This pronotal extension is a key feature used in identification and is involved in camouflage and mimicry.

There are about 3,000 described species worldwide, with the greatest diversity in tropical regions. Treehoppers inhabit a range of environments including forests, woodlands, orchards, and other areas where suitable woody host plants are available. They are found on leaves, stems, and twigs of many plant taxa, and host specificity varies from strict to relatively generalist.

Biology and life cycle: Treehoppers feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. The life cycle is hemimetabolous, progressing from eggs laid on plant tissue to multiple nymphal instars and then adults. Both nymphs and adults feed on the same hosts and produce honeydew, which commonly attracts ants. This honeydew-based mutualism can influence herbivory and plant quality on the hosts.

Behavior and ecology: Many treehoppers rely on their morphology for camouflage or mimicry, blending with twigs or thorns. Some species communicate and respond to predators through substrate-borne vibrational signals. Ant–treehopper mutualisms, when present, provide protection in exchange for honeydew and can affect community interactions on host plants.

Economic importance: Some treehoppers are agricultural pests on crops and ornamentals, feeding on phloem or xylem. They can also act as vectors for plant pathogens in certain cases, contributing to disease spread, though their overall economic impact is typically limited to specific species and contexts.