Gold Coast Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera)Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis) Common Milkweed Bug (Arocatus rusticus) Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus) Green Jewel Bug (Lampromicra senator) Green-faced Wattle Hopper (Hackerobrachys viridiventris) Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa) Mallotus Harlequin Bug (Cantao parentum) Orange Assassin Bug (Gminatus australis) Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea) Shield Bug (Antestiopsis cederwaldi)

Aconophora compressa is a species of belonging to the treehopper family Membracidae, true hoppers suborder Auchenorrhyncha. Common name of Lantana Treehopper, as it is found on the plant lantana. Other common names include Lantana Bug, Lantana Stemsucking Treehopper and Lantana Sap-sucking Bug.

Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

This species is brown in colour, up to 8 mm long and a thorn-shaped body. A gregarious insect, that gathers in large numbers. Aconophora compressa produces a large amount of honeydew (like other sap-sucking insects, aphids, psyllids, scales).

Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

Aconophora compressa is an introduced species to Australia as a biological control agent for the invasive plant species Lantana (Lantana camara), although they have also been found on other plant species such as Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum), Duranta erecta (including Geisha Girl and Sheena’s Gold), Jacaranda mimosifolia, and Eremophila spp.

Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
  • Infraorder: Cicadomorpha
  • Superfamily: Membracoidea
  • Family: Membracidae
  • Subfamily: Membracoidea
  • Tribe: Aconophorini
  • Genus: Aconophora
  • Species: Aconophora compressa

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Stefan Jones
  2. Aconophora compressa Walker, 1851, Lantana Stemsucking Treehopper, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Aconophora compressa
  3. Lantana Treehopper Aconophora compressa, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/337103-Aconophora-compressa

Gold Coast Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera)Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis) Common Milkweed Bug (Arocatus rusticus) Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus) Green Jewel Bug (Lampromicra senator) Green-faced Wattle Hopper (Hackerobrachys viridiventris) Lantana Treehopper (Aconophora compressa) Mallotus Harlequin Bug (Cantao parentum) Orange Assassin Bug (Gminatus australis) Red Spiny Assassin Bug (Scipinia arenacea) Shield Bug (Antestiopsis cederwaldi)

Gold Coast InsectsAntlions, Lacewings, and Allies (Neuroptera) Ants Bees Beetles Bugs (Hemiptera & Heteroptera) Buterflies & Moths Flies (Diptera) Wasps

Gold Coast RegionFauna

QueenslandQueensland Fauna Gold Coast Region Lamington National Park Southern Downs QLD