lullisilla

Lullisilla is a genus of small, sap-sucking insects in the order Hemiptera. The genus comprises four described species and is distributed in temperate and subtropical forests across the northern hemisphere and adjacent islands. Members are slender and soft-bodied, measuring about 3–5 millimeters in length. Adults typically have a pale green to brown coloration, with variable wing development; in winged species, forewings are membranous and clear, while wingless forms remain compact on the host plant. Antennae are short, and the legs are adapted for clinging to undersides of leaves.

Lullisilla species feed on phloem fluids from a range of understory shrubs and small trees. They often produce honeydew that supports epiphytic microbes and attracts ants, with some species engaging in facultative mutualisms. Activity is mainly nocturnal; flight is limited, and populations may show localized aggregation at night on favored host plants.

The life cycle is hemimetabolous: eggs are laid on leaf surfaces, nymphs pass through four instars, and adults emerge after several weeks depending on temperature. Reproduction continues year-round in warm habitats, with generation times shortened by higher temperatures.

The four described species are Lullisilla nocturna (the type species), Lullisilla aurora, Lullisilla mirabilis, and Lullisilla nigra. L. nocturna tends to be darker; L. aurora shows iridescent greenish hues; L. mirabilis has a relatively elongated head capsule; L. nigra is notably darker.

Etymology: the name combines Latin roots for soft and small, reflecting the insect’s delicate body.

Notes: The genus is of interest for studies of plant–insect interactions and mutualistic associations with ants, but conservation concerns exist where forest habitat is degraded.