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Treehopper nymph

Ledromorpha planirostris

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
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-37.9766, 146.378

Field Notes

Description:

About 20mm long. <br> Very flat and looking like a tiny crocodile waiting in eucalyptus bark.

Habitat:

Eucalyptus open woodland.

Notes:

The largest known tree hopper. Males have never been found. <br>
Adults are up to 28mm long with a tapered tail which is actually an ovipositor. <br> http://www.flickriver.com/photos/zosterops/29326242322/ <br> https://sites.google.com/site/insectsoftasmaniahemiptera/suborder-auche…

Reference Links:

Largest organisms - Wikipedia, The World's Largest Leafhopper - Ledromorpha planirostris

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (14)
Christine Y.
Very unique for sure! You could start your own mission full of eccentric insect outliers...
Mark Ridgway
Oh and there's the heaviest moths too. I'm starting to think it's a weird place. ;-) http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/127236093
Mark Ridgway
Thanks Christine. You're so right too.. we've got another tiny giant in Oz http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/241381209
Christine Y.
Congratulations Mark! Didn't you find a giant springtail as well? Love your scale insect also. You have a talent for finding these "large" small insects!
Mark Ridgway
Thanks all. For those interested here is the weird hopper's best friend the largest scale insect in the world.. also weird http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11329636
suzmonk
Congratulations! What a flat fellow. Scratch that. Slender sally.
SukanyaDatta
Yay!!! This one had my vote too. Congrats, Mark. Really croc-like.
Leuba Ridgway
Congratulations Mark ! One of the oddest creatures ever...
Brian38
Congrats Mark on SOTD a very cool spotting!
DanielePralong
Congratulations Mark, this superflat master of disguise is our Spotting of the Day! "Can you spot it? We're being cryptic today with this remarkably flat Leafhopper nymph (Ledromorpha planirostris) as our Spotting of the Day! The only described species in the genus Ledromorpha (family Cicadellidae), it is endemic to eastern Australia and often found on the trunk or under the bark of eucalyptus trees. This critter has two serious claims to fame. First, with adults measuring up 28mm in length (helped by a tapered tail which is actually a long ovipositor), it is the largest known leafhopper. Second, no males of this species have ever been found. Because of this it is assumed to be parthenogenetic. For more information: https://buff.ly/2AnP89t " Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10159691633300603/?type=3&theater Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/936018487948070912
Christine Y.
Fascinating - so huge, so flat, and so well camouflaged! Very nice!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mimetic Animals of the World
Mission
The Hoppers

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Photographed
PublishedNovember 29, 2017

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