| Sternorrhyncha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| An aphid. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
| Superfamilies | |
Aleyrodoidea | |
TheSternorrhyncha[1][2][3] suborder of theHemiptera contains theaphids,whiteflies, andscale insects, groups which were traditionally included in the now-obsolete order "Homoptera". "Sternorrhyncha" refers to the rearward position of the mouthparts relative to the head.
Distributed worldwide, all members of this group areplant-feeders, many consideredpests feeding onmajor crops and ornamental plants.
Many exhibit modified morphology and/orlife cycles, including phenomena such as flightless morphs,parthenogenesis,sexual dimorphism, andeusociality.
Thephylogeny of the extant Sternorrhyncha, inferred from analysis of small subunit (18S)ribosomal RNA, is shown in thecladogram.[citation needed]
| Sternorrhyncha |
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The evolutionary position of several fossil taxa are unclear. A suggested phylogeny is:[4][5]
Well-known groups in the Sternorrhyncha include:
