Xestocephalinae species list

The xestocephalines are small rounded leafhoppers with small eyes and a characteristic pattern of pale round spots scattered across the tegmina. In some species the spots run into each other so the pattern is not clear. Features common throughout the subfamily are reduced antennae, rounded head and body and small eyes and these features appear to be adaptations for subterranean living although, as pointed out by Rakitov (2000) this is not the case for most species [update: 13.ii.2001]. Some species in the subfamily, however, are known to be myrmecophilous. Most of the world's species are currently classified into the single nominal genus Xestocephalus with a few aberrant species separated into their own genus. It is likely that the Australian fauna contains many undescribed species. The myrmecophilous Australian species Myrmecophryne formiceticola has been found feeding on the roots of sugarcane and may be associated with transmission of diseases of sugarcane.

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Xestocephalus tasmaniensis Evans