- This page contains pictures and information about Gum-Leafhoppers in subfamily Eurymelinae that we found in the Brisbane area,
Queensland, Australia.
-
 - Gum-Leafhoppers in
subfamily Eurymelinae haves only one or a few spines
on hind legs.
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- Once this group of Gum-leafhopper species are classified as the family Eurymelidae. They are now classified as a subfamily of the Cicadellidae.
Most are found only on Eucalypts and a few on Casuarina. They are
confined to Australia and the near-by area.
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- Many species in this family are brightly coloured or predominantly black. Their head is relatively
wide and flat with ocelli in the front. There are only one or a few spines
on hind legs.
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- They often stay in groups feeding
on young stems of eucalypt. Some species are solitary. Nymphs and adults feed
by sucking the sap of the host tree.
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- Gum-leafhoppers are from small to medium in size. Eggs are laid in batches
in parallel slits in twigs on food plants. The eggs slits are sealed with a
secretion produced by the females. As most other bugs in Order
Hemiptera, there are five nymph and one adult stages in their
life cycle.
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- Sometimes there are the black moss surrounds the Gum-leafhoppers. This is
the airborne fungal disease,
sooty mould (Fumago vagans), which is often associated with the honeydew
that the gum-leafhoppers excreted.
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  - Eurymelinae nymph, they don't jump
Wide and flat head with ocelli in the front
Attended by ants
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- Unlike most other leafhopper nymphs, Eurymelinae nymphs do not jump. They avoid predators by running around the twig or branch.
The nymphs always live in group. Both adults and nymphs are often attended by ants.
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- Those ants surround them come for their excretion of 'honey-dew', which
is the excess sugar that the treehoppers do not need. The presence of ants discourage
predators. This becomes a kind of protection from the ants.
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- Those Gum-leafhoppers we found are in two tribes, classified as follows;
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 Tribe Eurymelini - Black Gum-leafhoppers- The Eurymelini are only found on eucalypts, so
their common name Gum-leafhoppers. They are brightly coloured or predominantly
black.
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 Tribe Ipoini - Brown Gum-leafhoppers- Ipoini treehoppers are relatively small in size. They are usually dull
in colour with mottled patterns. They mostly feed on eucalypts but some are
on other plants.
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Unknown Gum-leafhoppers
- Unknown Gum-leafhopper Nymph I
- ? sp., body length 8mm
- Pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest on early summer. Dr.
Murray Fletcher sent us email and advised that this nymph looks like a member of the Eurymelinae.
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- Unknown Gum-leafhopper Nymph II
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- Reference:
- 1. Subfamily Eurymelinae, Tribe Eurymelini
- Fletcher, M.J. (2009 and updates). Identification keys and checklists for the leafhoppers, planthoppers and their relatives occurring in Australia and neighbouring areas (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
- 2. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 473.
- 3. Forest
Health Sheet Leafhoppers - By Charlma Phillips, Forest Health Scientist,
ForestrySA , Revised June 1992.
- 4. The leafhoppers and froghoppers of Australia and New Zealand (Homoptera: Cicadelloidea and Cercopoidea) - J W Evans, Australian Museum,
1966, p29.
- 5. Northern
Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
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