Umbonia spinosa

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Umbonia spinosa
Umbonia.jpg
Umbonia spinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Suborder:
Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorder:
Cicadomorpha
Superfamily:
Membracoidea
Family:
Membracidae
Genus:
Species:
U. spinosa
Binomial name
Umbonia spinosa
(Fabricius, 1775)
Different coloration exhibited by U. spinosa

Umbonia spinosa is a species of treehopper or thorn bug (family Membracidae) native to South America.

Morphology[]

Umbonia spinosa can be distinguished from other members of its genus by the appearance of its elongated pronotum, or dorsal horn. The dorsal horn is located between or just behind its humerals and they possess a short metopidium. The dorsal horn itself is straight and the base of the plate is yellow, testaceous or pale green, with red or yellow vittae (stripes) at each side, though sometimes U. spinosa can be characterized by black vittae. The dorsal horn gradually tapers to a point from base to summit, similar to a thorn in appearance.[1]

Distribution[]

Umbonia spinosa has been found in South and Central America, Mexico, and southern Florida. In general, they tend to reside in more subtropical environments. In Central America, they congregate on the branches of the Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) for mating and overwintering, and are also found on the bean tree (Inga edulis).[2] Female Umbonia spinosa uses those trees to lay their eggs in by making round holes in them.[3]

Relationship with humans[]

The juvenile form of Umbonia spinosa is historically considered edible by the indigenous peoples of South America, while their spines are still soft after molting.[2][4]

U. spinosa guarding nimphs

References[]

  1. ^ Goding, Frederic W. (Sep 1929). "The Membracidae of South America and the Antilles. IV. Subfamilies Hoplophorioninae, Darninae, Smiliinae, Tragopinae (Homoptera)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 55 (3): 197–330. JSTOR 25077221.
  2. ^ a b Onore, Giovanni (1997). "A brief note on edible insects in Ecuador". Ecology of Food and Nutrition. 36 (2–4): 277–285. doi:10.1080/03670244.1997.9991520. ISSN 0367-0244.
  3. ^ Martorell, Luis F. (1939). "INSECTS OBSERVED IN THE STATE OF ARAGUA, VENEZUELA, SOUTH AMERICA". The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico. 23: 192.
  4. ^ Wallace, Alfred Russel (1854). "On the Insects used for Food by the Indians of the Amazon". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 2. 2 (8): 241–244. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1854.tb02224.x. ISSN 0035-8894.

External links[]


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