Unknown insects from Madagascar
Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Found incidentally during a geological prospection in arbustives impenetrable hills:)
Two groups of individuals’ about twenty each, unite in end of branch, close to the soil. Do not steal (chrysalises? In transformation?)
Aragon
North of Madagascar (Ambilobe region)
Immature Fulgorid Planthoppers
Dear Aragon,
What we are certain of is that these insects are in the order Hemiptera which includes True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies and probably in the Superfamily Fulgoroidea, the Planthoppers. Many immature Fulgorid Planthoppers secrete a white waxy substance that forms filaments and the wax is a protection for the soft bodied insects. We suspect this may be one of the Fulgorid Planthoppers, but we are not certain. There is a spectacular Central American Planthopper, Cerogenes auricoma , that also produces the waxy filaments as an adult. We will continue to try to identify this insect more specifically, and we also welcome any input from our readership.
Immature Fulgorid Planthoppers
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Homopteran, possibly immature Fulgorid Planthopper
Fulgorid Planthopper from Brazil
Planthopper Nymph
Fulgorid Planthopper Nymph
Believe it or not, they’re edible! I found a website — http://www.thaibugs.com — that’s got loads of wonderful pictures and insights into, well, you can figure it out. They cover many aspects of insects, including a whole page on the edible ones. This bug isn’t included there, but on another page it specifies that these flowerly flatidae are a delicacy. I’ll be searching for more information in the coming weeks.
Dave
http://www.slshrimp.com