| Membracoidea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leafhoppernymph of the Common Jassid (Eurymela fenestrata) on aeucalyptus branch, withant | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
| Infraorder: | Cicadomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Membracoidea Rafinesque 1815 |
| Families | |
The superfamilyMembracoidea of sap-suckingtrue-bugs includes two of the largest families within what used to be called the "Homoptera": theleafhoppers (Cicadellidae) and thetreehoppers (Membracidae). The other families in this group are quite small, and have, at various points, generally been included as members within other families, though they are all presently considered to be valid,monophyletic groups. Therelict familyMyerslopiidae is restricted to New Zealand and South America while the Melizoderidae consist of two genera restricted to South America.[1][2] The great diversity of Neotropical taxa suggests that the group originated in that region.
| Family relations within the Membracoidea[3][4] |
The Membracoidea share the following anatomical characteristics, atentorium which is incomplete, the midcoxae are enlarged; and the mid and hind tibiae have rows of setae. The position of Jascopidae represented byJascopus notabilis andHomopterulum jelli is not entirely clear but they have setal rows on the front and middle tibiae.[5]
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