Cixiidae

/sɪkˈsiːɪdi/ noun

Definition

A family of small plant-feeding insects (order Hemiptera) related to planthoppers; they feed on plant sap and can vector plant pathogens.

Etymology

Taxonomic family name from genus 'Cixius' (etymology uncertain) plus the Latinized family suffix '-idae.' This is scientific nomenclature following binomial classification.

Kelly Says

Cixiidae represents how scientists organize the overwhelming diversity of insects into named families—there are thousands of cixiid species worldwide, most invisible to humans but ecologically important as plant-feeders and disease vectors.

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