Aphalaridae is a family of insects in the superfamily Psylloidea, commonly known as jumping plant lice or psyllids with a worldwide distribution.GBIF: family Aphalaridae 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 (a pad-esque structure on the tarsus) 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 (a thickened cell) 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.Bugguide.net. Aphalaridae

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 (sap) of plants. Most species are highly host-specific. The aster family, Asteraceae, is host to many species in the genus Craspedolepta. Polygonaceae (the knotweed family) 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 (Agonoscena pistaciae), 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 (Agonoscena pistaciae), 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:

Aphalarinae Cecidopsyllinae Cecidopsylla Microphyllurinae Microphyllurus Phacopteroninae Rhinocolinae Spondyliaspidinae Togepsyllinae

While Burckhardt et al. (2021) 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:

Agelaeopsylla Taylor, 1990 Agonoscena Enderlein, 1914 Ameroscena Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989 Anoeconeossa Taylor, 1987 Anomalopsylla Tuthill, 1952 Aphalara Förster, 1848 Apsylla Crawford, 1912 Australopsylla Tuthill & Taylor, 1955 Blastopsylla Taylor, 1985 Blepharocosta Taylor, 1992 Boreioglycaspis Moore, 1964 Brachystetha Loginova, 1964 Caillardia Bergevin, 1931 Cardiaspina Crawford, 1911 Cerationotum Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989 Colposcenia Enderlein, 1929 Craspedolepta Enderlein, 1921 Crastina Loginova, 1964 Creiis Scott, 1882 Crucianus Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989 Cryptoneossa Taylor, 1990 Ctenarytaina Ferris & Klyver, 1932 Dasypsylla Froggatt, 1900 Epheloscyta Loginova, 1976 Eriopsylla Froggatt, 1901 Eucalyptolyma Froggatt, 1901 Eumetoecus Loginova, 1961 Eurhinocola Crawford, 1912 Eurotica Loginova, 1962 Glycaspis Taylor, 1960 Gyropsylla Brèthes, 1921 Hodkinsonia Burckhardt, Esperito-Santo, Fernandes & Malenovský, 2004 Hyalinaspis Taylor, 1960 Kenmooreana Taylor, 1984 Lanthanaphalara Tuthill, 1959 Lasiopsylla Froggatt, 1900 Leptospermonastes Taylor, 1987 Leurolophus Tuthill, 1942 Limataphalara Hodkinson, 1992 Lisronia Loginova, 1976 Megagonoscena Burckhardt & Lauterer, 1989 Moraniella Loginova, 1972 Neaphalara Brown & Hodkinson, 1988 Notophyllura Hodkinson, 1986 Phellopsylla Taylor, 1960 Phyllolyma Scott, 1882 Platyobria Taylor, 1987 Rhinocola Förster, 1848 Rhodochlanis Loginova, 1964 Rhombaphalara Loginova, 1964 Rhusaphalara Park & Lee, 1982 Spondyliaspis Signoret, 1879 Syncarpiolyma Froggatt, 1901 Syncoptozus Enderlein, 1918 Tainarys Brèthes, 1920 Togepsylla Kuwayama, 1931 Xenaphalara Loginova, 1961

extinct genera

Eogyropsylla Klimaszewski, 1993 † Necropsylla Scudder, 1890 † Paleopsylloides Bekker-Migdisova, 1985 † Proeurotica Bekker-Migdisova, 1985 † Protoscena Klimaszewski, 1997 †

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