Aphaenini

The subfamily Aphaeninae is a group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics. They belong to the Fulgoridae (fulgorids), though they are not among the better-known members of that family that are called "lantern bugs" or "lanternflies" (although as true bugs they are only distantly related to true flies). In 2009, the first molecular analysis of the Fulgoridae challenged the existing structure of eight currently recognized subfamilies and eleven tribes.

Aphaeninae contain a number of well-sized fulgorids. If seen flying at a distance, they can be mistaken for Lepidoptera, as they are large winged and boldly patterned, although usually not as colorful as some other fulgorids.

The future of the Aphaeninae as a subfamily is unclear since the species assigned to it are interlineated in the molecular analysis with species of other Fulgoridae subfamilies. The tribe Enchophorini, previously placed here, has been raised to a subfamily.

Tribes and genera

Tribe Aphaenini

Auth.: Blanchard, 1847 and Distant, 1906 (distribution: worldwide tropics)
* '' Anecphora'' Karsch, 1890 (equatorial Africa)
* ''Aphaena'' Guérin-Méneville, 1834 (type genus: Asia)
* '' Calmar'' Kirkaldy, 1901 (Gambia)
* '' Coelodictya'' Jacobi, 1910 (E. Africa)
* '' Copidocephala'' Stål, 1869 (Central Americas)
* '' Eddara'' Walker, 1858 (Sub-Saharan Africa)
* '' Egregia'' Chew Kea Foo, Porion & Audibert, 2010 (Malesia)
* '' Holodictya'' Gerstaecker, 1895 (Equatorial Africa)
* '' Hypselometopum'' Stål, 1853 (Sub-Saharan Africa)
* ''Kalidasa'' Kirkaldy, 1900 (India, Indo-China)
* '' Limois'' Stål, 1863 (Asia: esp. China)
* '' Lycorma'' Stål, 1863 (Asia: incl. invasive sp.)
* '' Malfeytia'' Schmidt, 1905 (Congo basin)
* '' Metaphaena'' Schmidt, 1905 (Central Africa)
* '' Novodictya'' Lallemand, 1928 (Congo basin)
* ''Omalocephala'' Spinola, 1839 (Africa, S. India, Sri Lanka)
* ''Penthicodes'' Blanchard, 1845 (South-East Asia: esp. Indo-China & Malesia)
** Species in the "artificial, heterogenous genus" ''Aphaenina'' Metcalf, 1947 are now synonyms of ''Penthicodes'' spp.
* '' Prolepta'' Walker, 1851 (Malesia)
* ''Scamandra'' Stål, 1863 (Malesia)
* '' Ulasia'' Stål, 1863 (PNG)

Tribe Benamatapini

Auth.: Lallemand, 1959 (central Africa)
* '' Benamatapa'' Distant, 1899

''

Incertae sedis''

* '' Bhaskaraena'' Constant, 2016 (Malesia)
* '' Bloeteanella'' Lallemand, 1959 (PNG)
* '' Flatolystra'' Nast, 1950 (South America)
* '' Neoalcathous'' Wang & Huang, 1989 (China, Vietnam)
* '' Neolieftinckana'' Lallemand, 1963 (PNG)
* '' Saramel'' Fennah, 1977 (PNG)

Genera formerly placed here

* ''Hellerides'' Lallemand, 1963 is a junior synonym of ''Zophiuma'' Fennah, 1955 in the Lophopidae.
The following PNG/Australian genera were previously placed here, but are now in the Poiocerinae: tribe Poiocerini Haupt, 1929:
* ''Desudaba'' Walker, 1858 (formerly in the tribe Aphaenini Schmidt, 1912)
* '' Erilla'' Distant, 1906 (formerly in the tribe Limoisini Lallemand, 1963)
* '' Galela'' Distant, 1906 (formerly in the tribe Aphaenini Schmidt, 1912)
* The type species of genus ''Apossoda'', ''A. togoensis'' Schmidt, 1911, is now placed in ''Pyrgoteles: P. togoensis'' (Schmidt, 1911)

Adverse effects

The spotted lantern fly is an invasive species in the United States and can devastate vineyards and ruin fruit crops. It feeds on a variety of crops, and the waste it excretes encourages a fungal growth called sooty mold which can kill plants by blocking sunlight from reaching their leaves. In September 2021 a boy included one of these rare and dangerous insects in his bug collection at the Kansas State Fair, triggering a federal investigation because the lanternfly had previously not been found farther west than southeastern Indiana.

References

External links

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FLOW: Aphaeninae

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2858193

Hemiptera subfamilies