Treehoppers have specialized muscles in the hind femora that unfurl to generate sufficient force to jump.

[3] It had been suggested that the pronotal "helmet" could be serial homologues of insect wings,[4] but this interpretation has been refuted by several later studies (e.g., [5][6]).

Nymphs of the treehopper Publilia concava have higher survivorship in the presence of ants even when predators are absent.

This is suspected to be because uncollected honeydew leads to the growth of sooty mould, which may hinder excretion by treehoppers and photosynthesis by their host plants.

The females of some membracid species sit over their eggs to protect them from predators and parasites, and may buzz their wings at intruders.

In at least one species, Publilia modesta, mothers serve to attract ants when nymphs are too small to produce much honeydew.

[12] Most species are innocuous to humans, although a few are considered minor pests, such as Umbonia crassicornis (a thorn bug), the three-cornered alfalfa hopper (Spissistilus festinus), and the buffalo treehopper (Stictocephala bisonia), which has been introduced to Europe.