Possibly Parthenogenic Leafhopper from Australia

STRANGE AUSSIE HEMIPTERAN
Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 3:25 AM
what is this odd looking thing? found in eastern Australia.
cheers,
Olga

Hi Olga,
This is a mystery. We have had no luck after about an hour of internet searching. We will post and hope to get an answer from someone. There is a resemblance to the Fulgorid Planthopper known as the Peanut Headed Bug, Fulgora laternaria , but it lives in the new world.

Unknown Australian Fulgoroid
Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Hi Daniel,
Eastern Australia is a pretty big place, similar to saying Eastern United States really. A location and a size reference may be helpful. Just to give you an idea, here is the list of fulgoroids from one Eastern state, New South Wales, alone. Many of the links on this page open up to lists about the same size just for variations of that one type.
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/ascu/fulgor/
If you can get some more information about location, time when it was found, eg did it come to a light at night or was it on a shrub during the day, and approximate size. I may be able to get an ID for you. It may be a lanternfly also.
regards,
Trevor

There is a tribe of plant hoppers called Thymbrini, the largest of which is Rhotidus which is brown with a triangular head. Could be . . .? These sites might help make the identification:
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/ascu/leafhop/ledrinae/thym00.htm (an online key to identification)
http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_cicadas/Ledrinae.htm
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/ascu/leafhop/cicaspp/rtelefor.htm (one of those horrible photos of a pinned dead insect, but might help
Grev

Hi Daniel,
It flew into my fathers windscreen while he was driving around a very bushy area near Jarvis Bay. Thats down the coast from Sydney. This was in the early afternoon. I have attached some more detailed pictures for aid in identification. Unfortunately the little bugger has since died and will now be preserved in a collection. I hope someone will be able to identify it! 🙂
Cheers,
Olga

Hi Olga,
Thanks for sending additional information and images. You should bookmark our posting and continue to check as people can provide comments. Our newly metamorphosed website allows for comments to be sent to the originator of the posting when that post is sent using a form. Since you contacted us through regular email, you will not receive those updates. We expect that one day, this truly unique Planthopper will be identified to the species level.

Hullo Daniel,
I think the mysterious bug is leafhopper Ledromorpha planirostris. No male has ever been photographed, only males. Is it parthenogenic the scientists ask?
I’ve posted link in the comments box.
Kind regards,
Grev

By George Grev,
We do believe you’ve got it right.  What an awesome addition to our website.