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Species of true bug From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The buffalo treehopper (Stictocephala bisonia) is a species of treehopper belonging to the subfamily Smiliinae.[1] It is sometimes classified as Ceresa bisonia.[2]
| Buffalo treehopper | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stictocephala bisonia, side view | |
 | |
| Upperside | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
| Family: | Membracidae |
| Genus: | Stictocephala |
| Species: | S. bisonia |
| Binomial name | |
| Stictocephala bisonia Kopp & Yonke, 1977 | |
This species is native to North America, but now it is widespread throughout southern Europe and it is also present in the Near East and in North Africa.[3]
Buffalo treehoppers are a bright green color and have a somewhat triangular shape that helps camouflage them so as to resemble thorns or a twiggy protuberance.[4][5][6] It gets its name from the vague resemblance of its profile to that of an American bison.[5] They grow to 6 to 8 millimeters (0.24 to 0.31 in) long and have transparent wings.[5][6]
S. bisonia mates during the summer months.[6] Males attract females with a song that, unlike similar songs used by cicada and crickets, is perceived by the female not as sound waves but as vibrations through the host plant.[7] Females lay eggs from July to October using a blade-like ovipositor.[5][6] Up to a dozen eggs are laid in each slit made by the female.[5][6]
Nymphs emerge from the eggs the following May or June.[5][6] The nymphs, which resemble wingless adults, but have a more spiny appearance, descend from the trees where they hatched to feed on grasses, weeds, and other nonwoody plants.[5][6]
They molt several times in the following month and a half until they have reached adulthood.[6] Then they return to the trees to continue their life cycle.[6]
Both adult and immature buffalo treehoppers feed upon sap using specialized mouthparts suited for this purpose.[6] Black locust, clover, elm, goldenrod, and willow are among their favorite food sources.[6] It is also an occasional pest of fruit trees and is harmful to young orchard trees, especially apple trees.[6] It has become an invasive species in some parts of Europe.[2]
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