Influence of Variation in Hind Leg Structure of Auchenorrhyncha on Their Jumping Performance

Four species representing four different families of the hemipteran insect suborder Auchenorrhyncha, <i>Lepyronia coleoptrata</i> (Aphrophoridae), <i>Euricania ocellus</i> (Ricaniidae), <i>Kolla</i> sp. (Cicadellidae) and <i>Tricentrus</i> sp. (Membracidae) were investigated using high-speed photography and scanning electron microscopy to identify hind leg structures that may influence jumping performance. The coxa-trochanteral joint, femur and tibia were found to have distinct structural adaptations that vary among these jumping insects. Froghoppers and planthoppers possess a coxal protrusion which is absent in leafhoppers and treehoppers, the latter featuring a more recessed coxal fossa. The medial coxae of these insects exhibit fields of microtrichia that vary in density and fine structure. Medial gears on the trochanters of <i>Tricentrus</i> sp. are implicated in the storage of energy prior to their jumps. These structural differences manifest in the insects' jumping performance. The study demonstrated a correlation between the robustness of the microtrichia field interaction and the insect's jumping capability. Specifically, leafhoppers, equipped with a pair of rivet-like structures connecting the hind coxae, were observed to achieve quicker and more stable take-offs. The study reveals that structural variations in the hind legs of Auchenorrhyncha species significantly influence their jumping performance, with implications for both efficiency and stability.