Kingdom Animalia Suborder Auchenorrhyncha Phylum Arthropoda Order True bugs | Class Insecta Infraorder Fulgoromorpha Rank Subfamily | |
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Similar Lystrinae, Penthicodes, Odontoptera, Fulgoridae, Enchophora sanguinea | ||
The subfamily Aphaeninae is a group of hemipteran insects, especially abundant and diverse in the tropics. They belong to the Fulgoridae (fulgorids), though they are not among the more well-known members of that family which are called "lantern bugs" or "lantern flies" (although as true bugs they are only distantly related to true flies). 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.