HOMOPTERA

• Several groups: Cicadas, Hoppers, Psyllids, Whiteflies, Aphids, Scale insects.
• Closely related to Heteroptera. (Heteroptera and Homoptera are suborders of order Hemiptera)
• Structure of wings: front wings have unifrom structure, either leathery or membranous (but not divided in two parts like in Heteroptera)
• Mouthparts piersing-sucking. Beak arises from posterior part of the head.
• Antennae sometimes short, but often long.
• Compound eyes usually well developed.
• Ocelli ( 2 or 3) can be present or absent.
• Plant feeders. Many are serious pests. Often vectors of plant diseases.
• A lot of variation in body form.
• Sometimes wingless and winged individuals within the same species.
• In scale insects, males have only 1 pair of wings.
• Aphids often viviparous (no eggs, but adults produce a nymph)
• Simple metamorphosis. In whiteflies it resembles a comple metamorphosis because the last nymphal instar does not move and looks like a pupa.
• Many species produce honeydew. Sometimes ants that feed on honeydew will protect the insects.

Families

The order Homoptera is divided into a number of families. Some families containing important agricultural pests are:

• Cicadellidae (= Jassidae) = Leafhoppers
• Delphacidae = Delphacid planthoppers
• Psyllidae = Psyllids or Jumping plantlice
• Aphididae = Aphids or Plantlice

The following families are within the superfamily Coccoidea (Scale insects):

• Margarodidae = Giant coccids
• Coccidae = Soft scales or tortoise scales
• Diaspididae = Armored scales
• Pseudococcidae = Mealybugs