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Shelf fungus and Planthopper nymph
Family: Cixiidae (planthopper)
-37.8575, 145.322
Field Notes
Description:
This is one of the sweetest things, so far !
There were three small shelf fungi ( about 10 mm wide) emerging from a log and in one of them was sheltering a small (4 mm long) cixiid plant hopper nymph (pic1). In the third shelf fungus was the exuvia, from which the little nymph had emerged (pic 2). Pic 3 shows the nymph out of the shelter.
The grey coloured nymph can be seen in some detail in pics 4 & 5. It appeared to have a narrow rostrum, wing buds and a short dorso-laterally flattened segmented abdomen. The rear end showed two white tufts on each side. Antennae - ? aristate.
Habitat:
Seen on a damp decaying pine log, in a nature reserve.
Notes:
My thanks to Ken Walker for identifying the hopper nymph as Cixiidae. The fungus remains a mystery.
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