| Sternorrhyncha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| An aphid | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
| Superfamilies | |
TheSternorrhyncha[1][2][3] suborder of theHemiptera contains theaphids,whiteflies, andscale insects, groups which were traditionally included in the now-obsolete order "Homoptera". The name "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 andornamental plants.
Many exhibit modifiedmorphology and/orlife cycles, including phenomena such as flightless morphs,parthenogenesis,sexual dimorphism, andeusociality.
Thephylogeny of the extant Sternorrhyncha, from a 2024 study using ultraconserved genetic elements, is shown in the cladogram:[4]
| Sternorrhyncha |
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The evolutionary position of several fossil taxa are unclear. A suggested phylogeny is:[5][6]
Well-known groups in the Sternorrhyncha include:
