Hemiptera

Cicadellidae

Leafhoppers

Ramosulus fulgidus - Manu, Peru - December 2008

The leafhoppers are a large family, with at least 20000 species worldwide and over 250 British species. They are mostly quite small (<10mm) but many are brightly coloured and beautifully marked.

adult male Cicadella viridis - West Glamorgan, Wales - July 2011

adult female Cicadella viridis - Cheshire, England - August 2009

adult female

nymph

Cicadella viridis - Cheshire, England - August 2009

Many of the tropical species are particularly colourful...

Erythrogonia sp. - Manu, Peru - December 2008

Erythrogonia sp. - Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

After moulting, they cover their body with microscopic secretary granules. These brochosomes provide a protective surface that is highly water repellent. It is also repellent to the insect's own liquid excretory waste, which due to its high sugar content is rather sticky and constitutes a potential hazard to any insect that doesn't have a non-stick surface. Individual brochosomes tend to be small (0.2-0.7µm), hollow, truncated icosohedral spheres (i.e. the same shape as a soccer ball) with a honeycombed outer wall.

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Sibovia praevia - Manu, Peru - December 2008

Manu, Peru - December 2008

Serra des Araras, Brazil - August 2000