Aphaeninae


The subfamily Aphaeninae is a group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics. They belong to the Fulgoridae, though they are not among the more well-known members of that family which are called "lantern bugs" or "lanternflies". In 2009, the first molecular analysis of the Fulgoridae, challenged the existing structure of eight currently recognized subfamilies, and eleven tribes.
Aphaeninae contain a number of well-sized fulgorids. If seen flying at a distance, they can be mistaken for Lepidoptera, as they are large-winged and boldly patterned, although usually not as colorful as some other fulgorids.
The future of the Aphaeninae as a subfamily is unclear since the species assigned to it are interlineated in the molecular analysis with species of other Fulgoridae subfamilies.

Tribes and genera

tribe Aphaenini

Auth.: Blanchard, 1847 and Distant, 1906
Auth.: Lallemand, 1959
Auth.: Haupt, 1929
The following PNG/Australian genera were previously placed here, but are now in the Poiocerinae: tribe Poiocerini Haupt, 1929:
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