Common Spittlebug
Machaerotida
Ledrinae
TheWorld'sLargestLeafhopper
BlackFlat-headLeafhopper
White-dotedBrownLeafhopper
Tartessinae
Yellow-headedLeafhopper
Brown Leafhopper1
Eurymelinae
Common Jassid
Punctata Gum-treehopper
Penthimiinae
Membracidae
Lantana Treehopper
Banksia Treehopper
Green Horned Treehopper
AcaciaHornedTreehopper
Tri-horned Treehopper
Common Jassid - Eurymela fenestrata
Family Cicadellidae, Eurymelinae, Eurymelini
- This page contains pictures and information about Common Jassids that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Adult body length 15mm
- Common Jassid is one of the largest size in the Eurymelinae. We also like to call them Large Gum-treehoppers, The adult is brown and dark violet under sunlight. There are some white spots on its wings. Nymph has the reddis-brown body with black markings.
- Gum-treehopper sometimes called Jassid because they were classified as family Jassidae before, then now the Cicadellidae.
- End August, we found many Common Jassids on young gum tree in a garden in Sinnamon Park. Most young gum trees we saw were infected. Adults and different stages of nymphs can be found mixed together. Besides some black moss, we did not see any damage on those trees. The black moss is an airborne fungal disease, sooty mould (Fumago vagans), which is often associated with the honeydew that the treehoppers excreted.
- 3rd, 4th and 5th instars
- All treehopper species have five instars and one adult stages. The above pictures show the 5th instars stage. They will become adults very soon. Usually there is one generation per year.
- As seen in the pictures there were some ants walking around. They are attended by ants. The excrete sugary 'honey dew' which is favoured by the ants.
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th instars and adults.
- They are slow moving, usually run aside when disturbed. The nymphs cannot jump. The adults may jump and fly away when touched.
- Adult with brown eyes and powder pink abdomen. Their body colours vary quite a bit between individuals.
- We saw this Large Gum-treehopper on gum leaf alone in Karawatha Forest during mid summer.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 472-437.
- 2. Genus Eurymela Le Peletier & Serville - Agricultural Scientific Collections Units, DPI, NSW.
- 3. Eurymela fenestrata Le Peletier & Serville, 1825 - Australian Faunal Directory, Australian Biological Resources Study.
