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Treehopper

Centrochares horifficus

Published on Project Noah
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14.0905, 120.986

Field Notes

Description:

Treehoppers (more precisely typical treehoppers to distinguish them from the Aetalionidae) and thorn bugs are members of the family Membracidae, a group of insects related to the cicadas and the leafhoppers. They are best known for their enlarged and ornate pronotum, which most often resembles thorns, apparently to aid camouflage. - Wikipedia

Habitat:

Urban garden.

Notes:

Family: Membracidae
Centrochares horrificus is readily distinguished from all other membracids thus far described from the Philippine Islands on account of the peculiar bristling spines, which are not found on any other species. The genus may be characterized not only by the foliaceous tibise and toothed thorax as described by Stal, but also by the most remarkable development of curious spines and tubercles over the surface of the pronotum. These bristling spines are of various shapes, lengths, and colors and give to the insect a decidedly terrifying aspect. The insects vary considerably in size and color. The males are usually smaller and darker than the females.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (25)

Awesome capture Leana,congrats on the well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing
Great find! Congratulations on the SOTD and getting an ID on this crazy looking hopper!
Congrats on this spotting of the day! Well deserved!
Congratulations!!!
Thanks Mark Ridgway! Centrochares horifficus or "horiffica" is an appropriate name :)
Some, including Global Names Index, have the species as 'horiffica' http://gni.globalnames.org/name_strings?page=724&search_term=ns%3ACEN* although horifficus is about as commonly used.
I concur with Catherine, see #12 under http://treehoppers.insectmuseum.org/public/public_content/show/11897
I believe it is: Species: Membracidae: Centrochares horifficus Per http://web.ntnu.edu.tw/~treehopper/index.php?page=people&p=ming_yu_chen&lang=en
Congrats Leana, this has been chosen as Spotting of the Day! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10156231607760603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/664295241856344064

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