Order Homoptera—Aphids, Spittlebugs, Scale 
Insects, and Allies 
The order Homoptera consists of divergent groups, some of which are among the 
most common and abundant of all insects. Except for the cicadas, they are mostly 
small and inconspicuous. A few are brilliantly colored, and many are grotesque in 
shape. They are closely related to members of the order Hemiptera, but are 
distinguished by their uniformly textured wings and by the point of origin of the 
beak at the back of the underside of the head. The mouth parts consist of four 
piercing stylets (the mandibles and maxillae). Many species are wingless, at least in 
the female. When wings are present, there are usually four with the front pair 
longer and the hind pair often wider. The wings do not overlap much at the top, and 
their bases are never abruptly thicker than their tops. They usually slope roof- 
shaped over the abdomen while the insect is at rest. Members of many families are 
able to conceal themselves beneath various protective coverings such as froth, waxy 
tufts, hard waxy shells, and the sloughing epidermis of bark. The majority are also 
able to produce honeydew, a sweet sticky excretion. 
Homopterous insects differ greatly in their biologies; some species produce 
several generations per year while others may require several years to complete one 
life cycle. The life history of some species is also very complex, involving both 
bisexual and parthenogenetic generations, winged and wingless individuals and 
generations, and sometimes the regular alternation of food plants. However, all 
species are phytophagous, and they feed on an almost endless variety of plants of all 
sizes and ages. They feed by inserting their beaks into plant tissues and extracting 
the sap. A large number of species are injurious both to cultivated crops and to 
forest, shade, and ornamental trees. 
Family Flatidae 
Flatid Planthoppers 
A number of species of flatid planthoppers feed on trees and shrubs, but they are 
seldom of economic importance (949, 1229). Members of different genera differ 
greatly in body and form. Those occurring in this country are usually less than 12 
mm long, and many have the head greatly modified, with the part in front of the 
eyes greatly enlarged and snoutlike. A useful characteristic for recognizing them is 
the position and form of the antennae. The two basal segments are stout, whereas 
the remainder consists of a nearly pear-shaped basal segment and a segmented, 
bristlelike terminal part. They also have a few large spines on the hind tibiae. Two 
fairly common species are Anormenis septentrionalis (Spinola) and Metcalfa pru- 
inosa (Say). The nymphs, which feed on the undersurfaces and midribs of leaves, 
resemble small masses of cotton and are about 6 mm in diameter. They jump when 
disturbed. 
Family Cicadellidae 
Leafhoppers 
This is one of the largest families of insects in the world; all appear to be plant- 
feeders. The adults range in length from about 3 to 15 mm and come in an almost 
endless variety of colors. Certain species resemble flatid planthoppers, but they 
differ in having one or more rows of small spines extending the length of the hind 
tibiae. Because of the nature of their feeding, which consists of piercing plant 
tissues with their mouth parts and sucking the juices, the damage they cause is 
usually not recognized or is attributed to other factors. About the only visible 
effects of leafhopper feeding are the white stippling of foliage or the browning, 
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