50 More Urban Species #24 Northern Flatid Planthopper

[urbpan]

Northern Flatid Planthopper Anormenis chloris
This planthopper has found remarkably effective camouflage on my friend Diane's shirt.

Flatid planthoppers belong one of several families within a larger group that includes cicadas and leafhoppers. Planthoppers appear to have evolved in the tropics and spread outward. The two main host plants of Anormenis chloris are black walnut and paw paw, two trees that just barely range into Massachusetts. They can make use of at least three dozen other plants, including some crops.

Nymphs of flatid planthoppers excrete filaments of waxy material. The young insects become almost completely covered in a cottony wrapping, which sticks to predators and doesn't stick to spiderwebs.

Comments

[soren-grey.livejournal.com]

I love these little guys! They hang out in small groups on my friend's trumpet vine. They're cute.

[yummykit.livejournal.com]

Um...if LJ tells you someone flagged this post, it was probably me (on accident, I swear!). One of my dogs just walked across my lap and clicked my mouse, which happened to be over the 'flag' link. :P

Love this pic though!

[wirrrn.livejournal.com]

Planthoppers, especially Flatids, are probably my favourite insect. They're just so endearingly cute!