The family Fulgoridae is a large group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics, containing over 125 genera worldwide. They are mostly of moderate to large size, many with a superficial resemblance to Lepidoptera due to their brilliant and varied coloration. Various genera and species (especially the genera Fulgora and Pyrops) are sometimes referred to as lanternflies or lanthorn flies.

The head of some species is produced into a hollow process, resembling a snout, which is sometimes inflated and nearly as large as the body of the insect, sometimes elongated, narrow and apically upturned. It was believed, mainly on the authority of Maria Sibylla Merian, that this process, the so-called lantern, was luminous at night in the living insect. Carl Linnaeus adopted the statement without question and coined a number of specific names, such as laternaria, phosphorea and candelaria to illustrate the supposed fact, and thus propagated the myth.

Taxonomy

Metcalf in 1938, as amended in 1947, recognized five subfamilies (Amyclinae, Aphaeninae, Fulgorinae, Phenacinae, and Poiocerinae) and twelve tribes in the Fulgoridae. By 1963 Lallemand had divided the Fulgoridae into eight subfamilies (Amyclinae, Aphaeninae, Enchophorinae, Fulgorinae, Phenacinae, Poiocerinae, Xosopharinae and Zanninae) and eleven tribes. This classification was generally accepted.

However, 21st century molecular analysis has called into question the organization of Fulgoridae, and suggests that the subfamily Zanninae may not belong in Fulgoridae.

Subfamilies and selected genera

The NCBI and the Hemiptera Database currently include to the following sub-families and genera (lists complete if subfamily not linked):

  • Amyclinae (Central America, Africa, Australia) - selected genera: Alcathous Stål, 1863 Amycle Stål, 1861
  • Aphaeninae Aphaenini Aphaena Guérin-Méneville, 1834 (India, China, Indo-China) Kalidasa (Indo-China) Lycorma (Indo-China) Neolieftinckana Lallemand, 1963 (PNG) Omalocephala Spinola, 1839 Penthicodes (Indo-China) Scamandra Stål, 1863 (Malesia) Pyropsini - SE Asia Datua Schmidt, 1911 Hariola Stål, 1863 Pyrops Spinola, 1839 (tropical Asia) Saiva Distant, 1906 (India, Indo-China, Malesia)
  • Dichopterinae Melichar, 1912 Cladodiptera Spinola, 1839 (South America) Dichoptera Spinola, 1839 (type genus - Asia) Dorysarthrus Puton, 1895 Protachilus Fennah, 1944
  • Enchophorinae Haupt, 1929 (S. America, Madagascar) Artacie Stål, 1866 Belbina Stål, 1863 Chilobia Stål, 1863 Enchophora Spinola, 1839 Enhydria Walker, 1858 Villala Goemans & O'Brien, 2005
  • Fulgorinae Aphrodisias Kirkaldy, 1906 (Central America) Cathedra Kirkaldy, 1903 (monotypic, S. America) Fulgora Linné, 1767 (tropical Americas) Odontoptera Carreno, 1841 (tropical Americas)
  • Lyncidinae Schmidt, 1915 (southern Africa) Lyncides Stål, 1866 Risius Stål, 1859
  • Phenacinae (Central and South America) Cerogenes Horváth, 1909 Menenia Stål, 1866 Phenax Germar, 1833 Pterodictya Burmeister, 1835
  • Poiocerinae Alphina Stål, 1863 Amantia Stål, 1864 Calyptoproctus Spinola, 1839 (Americas) Cyrpoptus Stål, 1862 Lystra Fabricius, 1803 (central & southern America) Poblicia Stål, 1866 (N. America) Polydictya Guérin-Méneville, 1844 (South-East Asia: Indo-China, Malesia) Poiocera De Laporte, 1832 Scaralina Yanega, 2024 Scaralis Stål, 1863
  • Strongylodematinae Fennah, 1962 (southern Africa) Capocles Emeljanov, 2004 Capenopsis Melichar, 1912 Codon Fennah, 1962 Strongylodemas Stål, 1853 Tecmar Fennah, 1962
  • Xosopharinae Metcalf, 1947 (Africa, Australia) Eningia Walker, 1858 Eurinopsyche Kirkaldy, 1906 Mantosyna Stål, 1869 Rentinus Metcalf, 1947 Xosophara Kirkaldy, 1904
  • Zanninae Metcalf, 1938 Zanna Kirkaldy, 1902 (Africa, Asia)
  • Fulgoridae incertae sedis Amdewana Nast, 1951 (neotropical) Amerzanna O'Brien, 1991 Flatolystra Nast, 1950 (south America) Fulgoricesa Koçak & Kemal, 2010 (synonym: Weyrauchia) Neocynthus Nast, 1950 (South America) Sinuala O'Brien, 1991 (3 spp., Central America) Stalubra O'Brien, 1991 (South America)

Notes:

Gallery

See also

  • Insects portal
  • Arthropods portal

Sources

External links

  • . College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Delaware. Archived from on 2013-06-16.
  • . S.E.A. Connections. Archived from on 26 January 2011.