Small World Discoveries

HEMIPTERA > AUCHENORRHYNCHA > FULGOROMORPHA

The FULGOROMORPHA infraorder includes the Cixiidae (Lacehoppers) together with the Delphacidae, Issidae and Tettigometridae (Planthoppers) families.

Cixiidae includes 12 species of lacehopper with only three listed as common, the remainder all being nationally scarce apart from the Banded Lacehopper [Cixius cunicularius] normally associated with stream-side habitats that has local, but scattered distribution. The most frequently recorded species are the Common Lacehopper [Cixius nervosus] and the variably coloured Spotted Lacehopper [Tachycixius pilosus]. One of the rarer species that I might find locally is the Saltmarsh Lacehopper [Pentastiridius (Oliarus) leporinus].

The large Delphacidae family comprises a varied group of 75 species of small and seldom studied bugs, collectively known as planthoppers. Generally, they don't hold much photographic interest, although there was one particular species that I wanted to see, which was the Bracken Planthopper [Ditropis pterids]. I'm pleased that I was subsequently able to find a couple. It's a fairly common species that, as its name suggests, is primarily associated with bracken. Both sexes are predominantly black with a creamy-yellow head, pronotum and legs. The male is only 2mm or so long, but the female is both larger and broader with creamy-yellow rings between the abdomen segments, making it a rather distinctive little bug.

The Issidae family includes just two species of planthopper that are characterised by their forewings having numerous crossveins. The Common Issid Bug [Issus coleoptratus] is a relatively common species across certain areas of the south where it can typically be found in woodlands, hedgerows and gardens. It is often seen on ivy and deciduous trees, particularly oaks. The other species, Issus muscaeformis, is nationally scarce and only known from a few specimens.

A further, very scarce, largely ground-dwelling species, known as the Chalk Planthopper [Tettigometra impressopunctata] which is restricted to a handful of chalk downland and calcareous dune locations in the south, is the sole British representative of Tettigometridae - a family characterised by hardened forewings which are covered with fine punctures.