Evolutionary Patterns of Host Plant Use by Delphacid Planthoppers and Their Relatives

Abstract

Planthoppers (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) are found on every continent except Antarctica and in all major biomes, including tropical rainforests, deserts, grasslands, and the arctic tundra (O’Brien and Wilson 1985). The more than 9000 described species are divided into 19 families (O’Brien and Wilson 1985; Wheeler and Wilson 1987). All species of Fulgoroidea are phytophagous, sucking fluids from leaves, stems, roots, or fungal hyphae. There are species which feed on woody plants (both angiosperms and gymnosperms), herbs, ferns, and even fungi (O’Brien and Wilson 1985).