Aphalaridae


Aphalaridae is a family of insects in the superfamily Psylloidea, commonly known as jumping plant lice or psyllids with a worldwide distribution. It was first described in 1879 by Austrian Entomologist, Franz Löw along with the tribe Aphalarini. Like other psyllids, aphalarids are small, sap-sucking insects, and they are often highly host-specific.
The family contains approximately 749 species. The classification of the family was revised in 2012 and further amended in 2021 to include new molecular and morphological data.

Morphology

Aphalaridae is a morphologically various family. Adults are typically between 1-5mm in length, and come in a variety of colors, often shades of green and brown.
The main synapomorphy for the family is in the nymphal stages, where the tarsal arolium is reduced to completely absent.
The adult stages are fairly unique, differing from other aphalarids, making the taxonomy even more difficult to resolve. Some key features to identifying the genera and subfamilies are the presence, or lack of, two genal cones on the front of the head. When these cones are present, their length can vary from short and rounded to long and pointed. On the wing's leading edge, a pterostigma may be present or absent. Generally, the hind wings of aphalarids are enlarged for jumping. The metatibia has a number of thick, black-tipped abical spurs. In many species, these are arranged in an open crown of sclerotised apical spurs.

Ecology and host plants

The life cycle of Aphalarids typically consists of an egg stage, followed by five nymphal instars, and finally the winged adult.
Aphalaridae are herbivores that feed on the phloem of plants. Most species are highly host-specific. The aster family, Asteraceae, is host to many species in the genus Craspedolepta. Polygonaceae is host to many species in the genus Aphalara. Spondyliaspidinae, the subfamily, is known primarily for their association with Eucalyptus. Nymphs in this family produce a protective covering called a "lerp", which is why they are commonly referred to as "lerp insects". The genus Agonoscena includes the common pistachio psyllid, which is a significant pest in the pistachio industry.

Distribution and habitat

Aphalarids can be found on all continents except Antarctica. The habitat of Aphalaridae species depends on the presence of its host plant. Because their hosts grow in a range of environments, Aphalaridae species can be found in habitats ranging from arid shrublands to temperate forests.

Economic importance

While most species are relatively inconspicuous, some are considered major pests. Pests in this group include the subfamily Spondyliaspidinae, which are known as "lerp insects" in Australia, and the pistachio psyllid, which is an agricultural pest.

Taxonomy

This family was previously thought to contain five subfamilies, but in the 2021 review by Burckhardt, et al., the following seven subfamilies were identified:
  1. Aphalarinae
  2. Cecidopsyllinae
  3. # Cecidopsylla
  4. Microphyllurinae
  5. # Microphyllurus
  6. Phacopteroninae
  7. Rhinocolinae
  8. Spondyliaspidinae
  9. Togepsyllinae
While Burckhardt et al. assign these seven subfamilies to Aphalaridae, the phylogenetic relationships between the subfamilies are not fully resolved and molecular analyses did not include representatives from Cecidopsyllinae or Togepsyllinae.
A 2024 molecular study on Bulgarian aphalarids recovered these relationships:

Overview of genera

BioLib includes:
  1. Agelaeopsylla Taylor, 1990
  2. Agonoscena Enderlein, 1914
  3. Ameroscena Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989
  4. Anoeconeossa Taylor, 1987
  5. Anomalopsylla Tuthill, 1952
  6. Aphalara Förster, 1848
  7. Apsylla Crawford, 1912
  8. Australopsylla Tuthill & Taylor, 1955
  9. Blastopsylla Taylor, 1985
  10. Blepharocosta Taylor, 1992
  11. Boreioglycaspis Moore, 1964
  12. Brachystetha Loginova, 1964
  13. Caillardia Bergevin, 1931
  14. Cardiaspina Crawford, 1911
  15. Cerationotum Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989
  16. Colposcenia Enderlein, 1929
  17. Craspedolepta Enderlein, 1921
  18. Crastina Loginova, 1964
  19. Creiis Scott, 1882
  20. Crucianus Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989
  21. Cryptoneossa Taylor, 1990
  22. Ctenarytaina Ferris & Klyver, 1932
  23. Dasypsylla Froggatt, 1900
  24. Epheloscyta Loginova, 1976
  25. Eriopsylla Froggatt, 1901
  26. Eucalyptolyma Froggatt, 1901
  27. Eumetoecus Loginova, 1961
  28. Eurhinocola Crawford, 1912
  29. Eurotica Loginova, 1962
  30. Glycaspis Taylor, 1960
  31. Gyropsylla Brèthes, 1921
  32. Hodkinsonia Burckhardt, Esperito-Santo, Fernandes & Malenovský, 2004
  33. Hyalinaspis Taylor, 1960
  34. Kenmooreana Taylor, 1984
  35. Lanthanaphalara Tuthill, 1959
  36. Lasiopsylla Froggatt, 1900
  37. Leptospermonastes Taylor, 1987
  38. Leurolophus Tuthill, 1942
  39. Limataphalara Hodkinson, 1992
  40. Lisronia Loginova, 1976
  41. Megagonoscena Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989
  42. Moraniella Loginova, 1972
  43. Neaphalara Brown & Hodkinson, 1988
  44. Notophyllura Hodkinson, 1986
  45. Phellopsylla Taylor, 1960
  46. Phyllolyma Scott, 1882
  47. Platyobria Taylor, 1987
  48. Rhinocola Förster, 1848
  49. Rhodochlanis Loginova, 1964
  50. Rhombaphalara Loginova, 1964
  51. Rhusaphalara Park & Lee, 1982
  52. Spondyliaspis Signoret, 1879
  53. Syncarpiolyma Froggatt, 1901
  54. Syncoptozus Enderlein, 1918
  55. Tainarys Brèthes, 1920
  56. Togepsylla Kuwayama, 1931
  57. Xenaphalara Loginova, 1961
; extinct genera
  1. Eogyropsylla Klimaszewski, 1993 †
  2. Necropsylla Scudder, 1890 †
  3. Paleopsylloides Bekker-Migdisova, 1985 †
  4. Proeurotica Bekker-Migdisova, 1985 †
  5. Protoscena Klimaszewski, 1997 †