A new family of froghoppers from the American tropics (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Epipygidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Froghoppers (Cercopoidea) are divided into three families: spittlebugs or Cercopidae, which are efficient spittle-producers; Clastopteridae (including subfamily Machaerotinae, new status), inefficient spittle-producers and tube-dwellers; and the new-world tropical Epipygidae, a new family known only from small numbers of adult specimens. Epipygidae are probably single-brooded, with shortlived adults that appear to rely mainly on stored body fat as an energy source. Unlike the related spittlebugs they probably lay exposed eggs and have free-living nymphs. The new genera Epipyga (typespecies Eicissus tenuifasciatus Jacobi) and Erugissa (type-species Erugissa pachitea sp. nov.) are described and Epipyga cribrata (Lethierry), a new combination from Aphrophora, plus Eicissus decipiens Fowler and twenty-seven undescribed species are included in the family.