Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)Leafhoppers and Treehoppers Index Aconophora compressa Brunotartessus fulvus Sextius virescens

Sextius virescens, commonly known as the Green Treehopper and the Acacia Horned Treehopper, belong to the family Membracidae. Current observations show them in the eastern states, South Australia, Top End of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania (Atlas of Living Australia).

As described in the common name Green Treehopper, they are green with two small brown to reddish horns and legs. The adults are approximately 5 mm in length. Their colour allows them to camouflage well, especially when they rest motionlessly on stems. The treehoppers are slow moving and when seen, move to the other side of the stem. They will jump away with a click sound when touched.

Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens) and Iridomyrex sp, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens) and Iridomyrex sp, Belair SA © Marianne Broug

Usually found on Acacia trees, the Green Treehopper suck the plant sap and excrete the excess as honeydew. The Green Treehopper are often attended by ants, collecting the excess honey dew.

Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), 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: Centrotinae
  • Tribe: Terentiini
  • Genus: Sextius
  • Species: Sextius virescens

Footnote & References

  1. Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens) © Marianne Broug
  2. Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens) © Stefan Jones
  3. Sextius virescens (Fairmaire, 1846), Green Treehopper, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Sextius virescens
  4. Green Treehopper (Sextius virescens), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/545283-Sextius-virescens

Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)Leafhoppers and Treehoppers Index Aconophora compressa Brunotartessus fulvus Sextius virescens

Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers)Planthoppers Index Alleloplasis Apollo maculiceps Colgaroides acuminata (Mango Planthopper) Desudaba maculata Desudaba psittacus Epithalamium aziola Eurybrachidae (Squathoppers) Flatidae Platybrachys Rhotana gressittorum Saccharodite chrysonoe Salona panorpaepennis Scolypopa australis (Passionvine Hopper)

HemipteraHemiptera Index Cicadellidae Cicadoidea Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers) Heteroptera (True Bugs) Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub