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Homoptera - cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, scale insects, aphids, spittlebugs, planthoppers, and mealybugs

Planthopper
Acanaloniidae
1/4 in.
Aphid

Aphid
Aphididae
1/8 in.

Members of the order Homoptera vary widely in appearance. They range from small to large in size and may or may not have wings. If wings are present, however, they are always uniformly membranous in texture. They may be transparent, as in the case of cicadas, or colored, as in the case of leafhoppers. Wings are held roof-like over the body. All Homopterans have piercing-sucking mouthparts, and metamorphosis is incomplete.

Homopterans are a very diverse order. Winged forms include leafhoppers, cicadas (sometimes called locusts), spittlebugs, planthoppers, and treehoppers. The aphids (plant lice) include both winged and wingless forms. Scale insects are covered throughout most of their lives by a waxy scale. All Homopterans feed on plants and, due to their piercing sucking feeding behavior, are capable of transmitting several plant diseases. Many serious plant pests belong to this order.

Spittlebug Cercopidae 3/8 in.	Leafhopper Cicadellidae 1/8 in.
Planthopper Dictyopharidae 5/16 in.	Treehopper Membracidae 1/4 in.
Armored scale Diaspididae 1/32 in. (individual scales)	Mealybug Pseudococcidae 3/16 in.
Cicada Cicadidae 1 1/8 in.	Buffalo Treehopper Membracidae 3/8 in.