D I S C O V E R Y A new family of froghoppers from the American tropics (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Epipygidae) K. G. Andrew Hamilton outside edge with stout, immobile spines (Figure 2) like those of planthoppers, the Fulgoroidea. The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada prominently swollen face that houses the sucking Research Branch pump in Cercopoidea (Figures 2-4) immediately Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6 distinguishes them from the flat-faced Fulgoroidea.
[email protected] Froghoppers include the insects known as ABSTRACT: Froghoppers (Cercopoidea) are divided “spittlebugs” because their juvenile forms (nymphs) into three families: spittlebugs or Cercopidae, which have an unique biology, living an essentially aquatic are efficient spittle-producers; Clastopteridae existence submerged in frothy masses of plant sap (including subfamily Machaerotinae, new status), (Figure 5). Some other froghopper nymphs live in sap- inefficient spittle-producers and tube-dwellers; and filled tubes (Figures the new-world tropical Epipygidae, a new family 6-10). These tubes SUCKING PUMP known only from small numbers of adult specimens. have been said to be Epipygidae are probably single-brooded, with short- “calcareous” with lived adults that appear to rely mainly on stored body “not less than 75% fat as an energy source. Unlike the related calcium carbonate” spittlebugs they probably lay exposed eggs and have (Ratte 1884) although free-living nymphs. The new genera Epipyga (type- modern studies show species Eicissus tenuifasciatus Jacobi) and Erugissa that they are mainly (type-species Erugissa pachitea sp.nov.) are described made of mucofibrils and Epipyga cribrata (Lethierry), a new combination from (Marshall 1965), Aphrophora, plus Eicissus decipiens Fowler and twenty- which are thick, seven undescribed species are included in the family.