A
planthopper is any
insect in the
infraorder Fulgoromorpha, exceeding 12,500 described species worldwide. The name comes from their remarkable resemblance to leaves and other plants of their environment and from the fact that they often "hop" for quick transportation in a similar way to that of
grasshoppers. However, planthoppers generally walk very slowly so as not to attract attention. Distributed worldwide, all members of this group are plant-feeders, though surprisingly few are considered pests. The infraorder contains only a single
superfamily,
Fulgoroidea. Fulgoroids are most reliably distinguished from the other
Auchenorrhyncha by two features; the bifurcate ("Y"-shaped)
anal vein in the forewing, and the thickened, three-segmented
antennae, with a generally round or egg-shaped second segment (pedicel) that bears a fine filamentous
arista.