Idiocerus morosus
This record describes Idiocerus morosus (species). Recorded family: Cicadellidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Form and general appearance of alternatus nearly, but smaller, darker, and with a deeper head; structure of verrucosus nearly. Male antennae with large, nearly circular plates. Head much deeper than in alternatus , nearly perpendicular down to the antennae in the female, sloping in the male; venation as in alternatus . Female segment slightly rounding posteriorly; pygofers long and slender, exceeded by the ovipositor by two and one-half times its width. Male antennae with large oval or nearly round discs, about twice as large as in alternatus . Colour: vertex and face pale creamy, a pair of large round spots on vertex; face in the female irregularly mottled with rust brown or fuscous, omitting a pair of circles around the spots on vertex, a pair of oblique spots just outside the ocelli, and a broad stripe down the front. Male face with a pair of crescentiform fuscous dashes outside the spots on vertex, a pair of narrow brown lines down the front, a wider pair on the sutures, and a still wider pair outsid ; the outer pair and sometimes the middle ones fuscous. Dorsal markings as in alternatus , usually somewhat darker in the male. The small size, deep head and attenuate ovipositor readily separate this from alternatus . The antennal plates alone will distinguish it from verrucosus , to which in head characters and colour pattern it is closely allied. (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
Colorado
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Idiocerus morosus Ball, 1902
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Idiocerus morosus. 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 morosus
What is Idiocerus morosus?
Idiocerus morosus is a species in the family Cicadellidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How big is Idiocerus morosus?
4.25mm
How do you identify Idiocerus morosus?
Form and general appearance of alternatus nearly, but smaller, darker, and with a deeper head; structure of verrucosus nearly. Male antennae with large, nearly circular plates. Head much deeper than in alternatus , nearly perpendicular down to the antennae in the female, sloping in the male; venation as in alternatus . Female segment slightly rounding posteriorly; pygofers long and slender, exceeded by the ovipositor by two and one-half times its width. Male antennae with large oval or nearly round discs, about twice as large as in alternatus . Colour: vertex and face pale creamy, a pair of large round spots on vertex; face in the female irregularly mottled with rust brown or fuscous, omitting a pair of circles around the spots on vertex, a pair of oblique spots just outside the ocelli, and a broad stripe down the front. Male face with a pair of crescentiform fuscous dashes outside the spots on vertex, a pair of narrow brown lines down the front, a wider pair on the sutures, and a still wider pair outsid ; the outer pair and sometimes the middle ones fuscous. Dorsal markings as in alternatus , usually somewhat darker in the male. The small size, deep head and attenuate ovipositor readily separate this from alternatus . The antennal plates alone will distinguish it from verrucosus , to which in head characters and colour pattern it is closely allied. (Ball, 1902)
Where is Idiocerus morosus found?
Range: Colorado