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Aphids, Scale Insects, Leafhoppers, and Tree HoppersBug on a leash
Hi bugman. Some of my friends went to Mexico this summer. They brought me these pictures of this weird bug. It was on a leash! What kind of bug is this? Thanks,
Francesco Saverio
Hi Francesco,
This is a Peanut Headed Lanternfly, Fulgora lanternaria, which is found in the Central and South American tropics. According to Wikipedia, this insect, known as the Machaca in the Amazon, has a very interesting superstition surrounding it: “In several countries, such as Ecuador ,Colombia and Venezuela , there exists the myth that if somebody is bitten by the machaca , he or she must have sex within 24 hours to prevent an otherwise incurable death. The insect is actually harmless to people.”
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