Idiocerus femoratus
This record describes Idiocerus femoratus (species). Recorded family: Cicadellidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Resembling alternatus , larger and darker; female with a shorter ovipositor and a longer segment, male with the middle femora greatly inflated, more than five times as large as the anterior ones. Head very broad; vertex distinctly curved, sometimes slightly angled in front; face nearly flat, strongly retreating; venation as in alternatus , the outer anteapical cell long and parallel margined. Female segment much longer than in alternatus , parallel margined or slightly rounding posteriorly, ovipositor exceeding the moderately-long pygofers by about twice its width. Male antennae with small oval discs on long setae. Intermediate femora in male from five to ten times as large as the anterior ones, over half as wide as long. Colour: vertex with a pair of rather large round spots, usually obscured by a band of irregular fuscous irrorations that extend down to the face; lower part of face with a few brown irrorations in female, usually traces of four brown stripes in male; pronotum irregularly brownish and milky white, with a few black spots on the anterior submargin; scutellum with the basal angles, a median line and two discal dots fuscous; elytra smoky subhyaline, the nervures darker, interrupted with light; legs light, all the femora and tibiae lineate with fuscous on the outer (upper) faces. The larger size and darker face will distinguish the female of this species from alternatus ; the enlarged femora render the male quite distinct in the genus. (Ball, 1902)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Auchenorrhyncha
- Superfamily
- Membracoidea
- Family
- Cicadellidae (Typical Leafhoppers)
- Subfamily
- Eurymelinae
- Tribe
- Idiocerini
- Genus
- Idiocerus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western USA and Canada (type locality: Colorado)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Idiocerus femoratus Ball, 1902
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Idiocerus femoratus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Idiocerus femoratus
What is Idiocerus femoratus?
Idiocerus femoratus is a species in the family Cicadellidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How big is Idiocerus femoratus?
6mm
How do you identify Idiocerus femoratus?
Resembling alternatus , larger and darker; female with a shorter ovipositor and a longer segment, male with the middle femora greatly inflated, more than five times as large as the anterior ones. Head very broad; vertex distinctly curved, sometimes slightly angled in front; face nearly flat, strongly retreating; venation as in alternatus , the outer anteapical cell long and parallel margined. Female segment much longer than in alternatus , parallel margined or slightly rounding posteriorly, ovipositor exceeding the moderately-long pygofers by about twice its width. Male antennae with small oval discs on long setae. Intermediate femora in male from five to ten times as large as the anterior ones, over half as wide as long. Colour: vertex with a pair of rather large round spots, usually obscured by a band of irregular fuscous irrorations that extend down to the face; lower part of face with a few brown irrorations in female, usually traces of four brown stripes in male; pronotum irregularly brownish and milky white, with a few black spots on the anterior submargin; scutellum with the basal angles, a median line and two discal dots fuscous; elytra smoky subhyaline, the nervures darker, interrupted with light; legs light, all the femora and tibiae lineate with fuscous on the outer (upper) faces. The larger size and darker face will distinguish the female of this species from alternatus ; the enlarged femora render the male quite distinct in the genus. (Ball, 1902)
Where is Idiocerus femoratus found?
Range: Western USA and Canada (type locality: Colorado)