rss leafhopper
I thought this was a good pic and your site says send one if you have a better one.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
The Candystriped Leafhopper, or Red Banded Leafhopper, Graphocephala coccinea, is such a beautiful insect. It is a shame it is so injurious to plants.
A fairy in the woods? What on earth…
Greetings,
I am a Peace Corp volunteer in Honduras and while wondering through the woods near my site a couple of weeks ago I thought I found the secret enchanted forests where fairies lived! Seriously though I have never seen anything like this. At first my partner and I beleived it was some type of bird, but up close you can see its wings and everything. It flys very slow, almost like floating in the air. I looked a little bit through your guyses catalog of bugs I have no idea where to even begin when looking up this beast. The only thing I have an idea of is that it flys, and looks incredibly soft like little feathers come out of it. It is an amazing animal. Any help on the name so I can do some research on this bad boy would be wonderful! Thanks.
Cliff Rosson
Hi Cliff,
Your letter is the third request we have received in the last month to identify Cerogenes auricoma, a Fulgorid Planthopper. We got the answer through Eric Eaton whot wrote: “thanks to the world authority, Lois O’Brien. She says it is Cerogenes auricoma. No common name, but the Latin translates to “wax producer with golden hair.” Seems appropriate. Apparently the native Indians use the yellow wax on the head and thorax of this insect to make a dye.”
We live in the mountains of Honduras, and we frequently see these in groups on certain types of trees. Generally, there is also a cloud of them flying overhead, near the tree. The body of the bug is around 2 – 3" long. Thanks so much for any identification help you can give us!
Trish Sowers
Gracias Lempira, Honduras
Hi Trish,
We just received an amazing close-up of this Fulgorid Planthopper. Eric Eaton had it correctly identified by Lois O’Brien as Cerogenes auricoma.
what the heck is this bug
We discovered this insect in Belize. It is approximately 10 centimeters long and we are fairly certain that it is a member of the order Homonoptera. Can you help us? Thank you so much,
Yeray
![fulgorid belize IDENTIFIED: Unknown [probably] Fulgorid Planthopper from Belize](http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/fulgorid_belize.jpg "IDENTIFIED: Unknown [probably] Fulgorid Planthopper from Belize")
Hi Veray,
That is a big insect. We believe it is one of the Fulgorid Planthoppers, but we would love to get you a positive identification.
Identification: (07/20/2007)
Daniel: You are most welcome. Hey, I finally have an answer on the fulgorid, thanks to the world authority, Lois O’Brien. She says it is Cerogenes auricoma. No common name, but the Latin translates to “wax producer with golden hair.” Seems appropriate. Apparently the native Indians use the yellow wax on the head and thorax of this insect to make a dye.
Eric
what is this and how to control it
hi Bugman, I live in San Bernardino, CA, about an hour east of LA. I have a large outdoor cactus garden that has be come infested with something. It looks like a tiny piece of cotton and when squished, emits a purple goo. Someone thought they were mealy bugs but I’m not sure. I have sprayed them with rubbing alcohol and they just keep coming. They seem to suck juice from the cacti. They seem to attack mostly one type of cacti but recently moved to another type. any help is greatly appreciated.
Thomas McGovern
Hi Thomas,
The Cochineal Scale is often found on the pads of beavertail or opuntia cactus. If you decide not to eradicate them, you might choose to supplement your income by selling them. The purple goo you describe, according to Charles Hogue: “can be extracted by crushing dry specimens to a powder and then boiling it in water. this cochineal, or ‘Spanish Red’ as it is known, has been used for centuries as a dye by American Indians. It was discovered by the Spaniards during their conquest of the New world, and it quickly gained considerable commercial value as a crimson dye for textiles. Only with the advent of synthetic dyes has its importance subsided, although in recent years its use has been revived in the search for natural food colorings.”
Pinocchio meets rudolph
Hi-
We found this bug in central Malaysia, and even though it’s distinct (to say the least), I can’t find anything about it on the internet. What the heck is it? Moth? Fly? cicada? Plastic happy-meal toy? Thank you!!
Megan
Hi Megan,
This is a Lanternfly in the Superfamily Fulgoroidea. They are considered Plant Hoppers and are mostly tropical.
Aphids?
Hi Daniel and Lisa,
Found these on my roses… my best guess is that they are aphids. They are on practically every branch tip of my roses. Grrrr. I will try hosing them off with a strong spray, and then will try the soapy water you recommended in one of your aphid letters. Wish me luck!
Yvonne
Barrie , Ontario
Hi Yvonne,
That is some Aphid infestation you have there. We have had some springs when we have a similar situation on our own rose bushes. The hose works very well because many of the young aphids are flightless and cnnot get back to the young tender rose shoots once they have been knocked to the ground. We also have problems with yellow aphids with black legs on our hoyas.
please tell me what it is
Dear Sir or Madam,
Please kindly check the name of the bug for me. Thanks
Gary
Hi Gary,
This is a Lantenfly. We cannot tell you anything more specific as you did not tell us where it was photographed.
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