| The horned
treehoppers are characterised by the enlargement of the pronotum, sometimes into grotesque
shapes. In Australian species there are usually two lateral horns but these are often
reduced to bumps and sometimes missing altogether. In Neosextius the horns are directed forwards and pressed
against one another to form an apparent single horn. One species, Eutryonia monstrifer, has a single bulbous column
extending vertically from the pronotum. New Zealand has a
single species Acanthucus trispinifer (pictured at right) which is an introduction
from Australia. [update: 12.ii.2001] Membracids are normally sedentary but are capable of jumping strongly when disturbed. Adults and nymphs are often found together and are tended by ants. Some species overseas have been proven to show maternal care by the adults for the eggs and young nymphs although this has not been recorded in the Australian fauna. A key to the Australian genera has been provided by Day (1999). A review of the world Centrotinae was provided by Wallace and Deitz (2004) [update: 1.ii.2005] |
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Document 7366, submitted 01 May 2008 © State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2008Top of page | Related titles |
