Sternorrhyncha
Encyclopedia
Sternorrhyncha is a suborder of the Hemiptera
which contains the aphid
s, whiteflies
, and scale insect
s, groups which were traditionally included in the order Homoptera. "Sternorrhyncha" refers to the rearward position of the mouthparts relative to the head. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders (phytophagous), and many are major crop and ornamental pests. Many exhibit modified morphology and/or life cycles, including phenomena such as flightless morphs, parthenogenesis
, sexual dimorphism
, and eusociality
.
Well-known groups in the Sternorrhyncha include:
Hemiptera
Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...
which contains the aphid
Aphid
Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
s, whiteflies
Whitefly
The whiteflies, comprising only the family Aleyrodidae, are small hemipterans. More than 1550 species have been described. Whiteflies typically feed on the underside of plant leaves.-Agricultural threat:...
, and scale insect
Scale insect
The scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
s, groups which were traditionally included in the order Homoptera. "Sternorrhyncha" refers to the rearward position of the mouthparts relative to the head. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders (phytophagous), and many are major crop and ornamental pests. Many exhibit modified morphology and/or life cycles, including phenomena such as flightless morphs, parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
, sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, and eusociality
Eusociality
Eusociality is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification....
.
Well-known groups in the Sternorrhyncha include:
- aphidAphidAphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
s – (AphididaeAphididaeAphididae is a very large insect family in the aphid superfamily , of the order Hemiptera. There are several thousand species in this family, many of which are well known for being serious plant pests...
and allied families) - woolly and gall-making aphids (Eriosomatinae, PemphigidaePemphigidaePemphigidae is an insect family of the order Hemiptera. Pemphigidae are aphids that cause the plants they attack to produce galls in which they reside and feed....
) - pine and spruce aphids (AdelgidaeAdelgidaeThe Adelgidae is a small family of the Homoptera closely related to the aphids, and often traditionally included in the Aphidoidea with the Phylloxeridae. Adelgids are often known as "woolly conifer aphids". The family is composed of species associated with pine spruce or other conifers, known...
, Chermesidae) - phylloxerans (Phylloxeridae, including the Vine PhylloxeraPhylloxeraGrape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
) - whitefliesWhiteflyThe whiteflies, comprising only the family Aleyrodidae, are small hemipterans. More than 1550 species have been described. Whiteflies typically feed on the underside of plant leaves.-Agricultural threat:...
– (Aleyrodidae) - jumping plant lice (Psyllidae and allied families)
- Superfamily Coccoidea (scale insectScale insectThe scale insects are small insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the superfamily Coccoidea. There are about 8,000 species of scale insects.-Ecology:...
s)- cottony cushion scales, giant coccids, and ground pearls (MargarodidaeMargarodidaeMargarodidae is a family of scale insects within superfamily Coccoidea. Members of the family include giant coccids , Polish cochineal and ground pearls ....
) - armoured scales (DiaspididaeDiaspididaeDiaspididae is the largest family of scale insects with over 2650 described species in around 400 genera. As with all scale insects, the female produces a waxy protective scale beneath which it feeds on its host plant...
) - cochinealCochinealThe cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the crimson-colour dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico, this insect lives on cacti from the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and...
insects (Dactylopiidae) - lac scales (KerriidaeKerriidaeKerriidae is a family of scale insects known as lac scales.Species include:*Kerria lacca - true lac scale*Paratachardina decorella - rosette lac scale*Paratachardina pseudolobata - lobate lac scale-References:...
, Lacciferidae, Tachardinidae) - soft scales (CoccidaeCoccidaeThe Coccidae are a family of scale insects belonging to the superfamily Coccoidea. They are commonly known as soft scales, wax scales or tortoise scales. The females are flat with elongated oval bodies and a smooth integument which may be covered with wax. In some genera they possess legs but in...
) - pit scales (AsterolecaniidaeAsterolecaniidaeAsterolecaniidae is a family of scale insects commonly known as pit scales or asterolecaniids. They typically cause a depression in the host plant's tissues and often cause distortion of the shoots. They are found on a range of hosts but are especially common on oaks, bamboos and a number of...
) - mealybugMealybugMealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm climates. They are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and subtropical trees and also acts as a vector for several plant diseases.-Distribution:Mealybugs...
s (Pseudococcidae) - felted scales (EriococcidaeEriococcidaeEriococcidae is a family of scale insects in the order Hemiptera. They are commonly known as felt scales or eriococcids. Each species is usually specific to a different plant host....
)
- cottony cushion scales, giant coccids, and ground pearls (Margarodidae