Clam Lerp Insect (lerp #24)

coccidae make a cover like this, http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/21244111

So The lerps are insects and lerp is a protective cover. Can the "lerp" be considered a living creature?does it have tubes to breathe with? How about the cover made by "coccids"?

Thanks for your reply, Martini. I was just about to post the answer I found to my question. "Lerps insects are close relatives of Scale Insects. Like Scale Insects, they are sap suckers and often aggregate in colonies. They insert their stylets, or mouthparts, into the plant and begin feeding and constructing a lerp, the protection cover. Lerps are formed from the honeydew excreted by the insects. The honeydew hardens on contact with air to form the protection. Lerps vary in size and shape. Each species has its own characteristic. They can be cones, univalves, bivalves or fan shapes"http://www.oocities.org/brisbane_softbugs/LerpsInsects.htm So basically,Lerps are close relatives of scale insects, BTW this is a great spotting and gives an insight into the dome formation. Thanks for sharing..

so are lerps and scale insects similar?

COOL! These little guys can make their own dome-shaped shelter. There is a much tinnier bug seen next to it in picture 1 and 3

Very nice, Martin. Love the colour of the nymph !