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Spittlebug nymph
Bathylus albicinctus
-37.894, 145.3
Field Notes
Description:
Small nymphs ( about 3mm long) with black head and wing buds and orange abdomens living in mounds of spittle (Cuckoo-spit). They had small black antennae and eyes set wide apart like little cicadas.
Habitat:
In spittle mounds on Dianella caerulea (Blue flax-lily). This species of spittle bug is said to use several herbaceous plants.
Notes:
Leaves on Dianella plants in one area of vegetation bordering sports fields were covered with spittle. Some had little orange nymphs. When disturbed, the nymphs ran out of the spittle and when put back, they did not remain under cover of the original spittle mounds -they tried to get away perhaps to make a new shelter.
I did not like doing this but wanted to see what the nymphs of these bugs looked like. Have never spotted this species of spittle bugs.
Here is a spotting of the adult by RachaelB
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/15764327
http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=1570
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_leafhoppers/Aphrophoridae.htm
Family Aphrophoridae
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