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Broad-headed Sharpshooter
Oncometopia sp.
8.66, -83.48
Field Notes
Description:
This looks like some sort of Sharpshooter to me, but I couldn't get a side photo. Possibly Oncometopia nigricans or Oncometopia orbona.
The white spots are Brochosomes, intricately structured microscopic granules secreted by leafhoppers (the family Cicadellidae of the insect order Hemiptera) and typically found on their body surface and, more rarely, eggs. It seems the brochosomes protect the insect from it's own sticky waste. (thank you Machi for the lead)
Habitat:
tropical rainforest
Notes:
Brochosomes are intricately structured microscopic granules secreted by leafhoppers (the family Cicadellidae of the insect order Hemiptera) and typically found on their body surface and, more rarely, eggs. They spread this anal secretion over their body after each new moult.
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/30/these-microscopic-ba…
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