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Auchenorrhyncha

Common name:

Cicadas, spittlebugs, leafhoppers, treehoppers, and planthoppers

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Tropics, terrestrial

Diet:

Plant sap

Number of species globally

Over 42,000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

312

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Mouthparts arise from the back of the head
-Short, bristle-like antenna
-Adult claws have three subsegments
-Many have excellent jumping abilities

Diagram

Did you know ?

Auchenorrhyncha are unusual in that the sexes communicate with each other using species-specific acoustic signals produced by a unique structure on the side of the abdomen called the ‘tymbal’ organ. Most of these calls take the form of vibrations that are inaudible to the human ear and are sent through the plant.
On the other hand, cicadas communicate through the air, males producing some of the loudest ‘songs’ of all insects.

Gallery

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