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Buffalo treehopper

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Boston (talk | contribs) at 21:39, 15 July 2008 (Life cycle: ref>[http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/buffalo_treehopper.htm] Ecology of the Buffalo Treehopper</ref>). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Stictocephala bisonia
Stictocephala bisonia
Scientific classification
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S. bisonia
Binomial name
Stictocephala bisonia
( Kopp & Yonke)

Stictocephala bisonia, common name Buffalo Treehopper and sometimes classified as Ceresa bisonia,[1], is a species of treehopper native to North America.

Appearance

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.[2] It gets its name from the vague resemblance of its profile to that of an American Bison.[3] They grow to 6 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 inches) long and have transparent wings.[4]

Life cycle

S. bisonia mates during the summer months. Males attract females with a song that, unlike similar songs used by cicada and crickets, are outside the sonic range audible to humans. Females lay eggs from July to October using a blade-like ovipositor. Up to a dozen eggs are laid in each slit made by the female.[5]

Nymphs emerge from the eggs the following May or June. 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 non-woody plants.[6]

They molt several times in the following month and a half until they have reached adulthood. At this time they return to the trees to continue their life cycle. [7]

Feeding

Both adult and immature Buffalo Treehoppers feed upon sap using specialized mouthparts suited for this purpose. Black locust, clover, elm, goldenrod, and willow are among their favorite food sources.[8] It is also an occasional pest of fruit trees and is harmful to young orchard trees, especially apples trees. It has become an invasive species in some parts of Europe.[9]

References

  1. ^ [1] Buffalo Treehopper article in Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 14, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online
  2. ^ [2]Buffalo treehopper, Stictocephala bisonia
  3. ^ [3]Penn State College of Agricultural Science
  4. ^ [4]Study of Northern Virginia Ecology
  5. ^ [5] Ecology of the Buffalo Treehopper
  6. ^ [6] Ecology of the Buffalo Treehopper
  7. ^ [7] Ecology of the Buffalo Treehopper
  8. ^ [8] Ecology of the Buffalo Treehopper
  9. ^ [9] Buffalo Treehopper article in Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 14, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online