Most leafhoppers use their legs to transfer droplets
of the brochosome-containing secretion onto the body (anointing),
and then to distribute dry brochosomes over the integument (grooming).
A distinctive feature of the leafhopper legs are rows and groups of strong
setae (macrosetae), which can be acute, capitate, inflated like balloons,
or hooked at the apex. They serve as fine tools for manipulating brochosomes.
In certain species from the lefhopper tribe Proconiini,
females use one of the four longitudinal rows of setae in the hind tibiae
to transfer brochosomes from the forewings onto the egg
nests. In females of such species, the setae of this row are usually
significantly longer than in males.
Some leafhoppers store ready-to-use brochosomes on their
forewings in form of spots. Such spots are most often observed in species
from the Typhlocybinae and Xestocephalini. A similar behavior is displayed
by females from certain species of the tribe Proconiini that store the
brochosomes to be used in oviposition as
a pair of globs on their forewings. The corresponding parts of the forewings
are modified to keep the brochosome masses in place. In each of these group
the forewing is modified in its own way, suggesting that the habit of storing
the brochosome secretion has evolved in each of the groups independently.
Xestocephalini: depressed
area
Typhlocybinae: wrinkled area
Proconiini: patch of setae.
Read more: Rakitov 2004.
