Aetalionidae

rdf:langString Aetalionidae

rdf:langString left

rdf:langString Spinola, 1850

rdf:langString Family relations within the Membracoidea

rdf:langString Tropidaspis carinata

rdf:langString * Aetalioninae (Spinola, 1850) ** Tribe Aetalionini (Spinola, 1850) *** Aetalion (Latreille, 1810) ** Tribe Darthulini (Metcalf, 1939) *** Darthula (Kirkaldy, 1900) * Biturritiinae (Metcalf, 1929) *** Biturritia (Goding, 1930) *** Lophyraspis (Stal, 1869) *** Mina (Walker, 1858) *** Tropidaspis (Stal, 1869)

rdf:langString Subfamilies

rdf:langString Aetalionidae

rdf:langString Aetalionidae are a family of treehoppers in the superfamily Membracoidea. Aetalionidae are somewhat like Membracidae in that they have one to three rows of short spines on the hind tibia but differ in having the front femur fused to the trochanter and the scutellum is completely exposed. The females have finger-like protrusions on the genital capsule. The family is mostly Neotropical. The subfamily Biturritiinae is Neotropical while the subfamily Aetalioninae has a Neotropical genus and the sole Old World representative genus Darthula with a single species (which is eaten in parts of China and India). They form aggregations on the branches of trees where they produce honeydew and are associated with ants and stingless bees. Aetalionid treehoppers are also known for their maternal care with females standing guard over their eggs. When disturbed, species like Darthula hardwickii are known to raise their tails in a threatening posture.