by Treehoppers, due to their unusual appearance, have long interested naturalists.
They are best known for their enlarged and ornate pronotum, expanded into often fantastic shapes that enhance their camouflage or mimicry, often resembling plant thorns (thus the commonly used name of "thorn bugs" for a number of treehopper species).
Treehoppers have specialized muscles in the hind femora that unfurl to generate sufficient force to jump.
Treehoppers have pointy, tube-shaped mouthparts that they use to pierce plant stems and feed upon sap. The young can frequently be found on herbaceous shrubs and grasses, while the adults more often frequent hardwood tree species.
Excess sap becomes concentrated as honeydew, which often attracts ants.
Some species have a well-developed ant mutualism, and these species are normally gregarious as well, which attracts more ants.
The ants provide protection from predators.
Treehoppers mimic thorns to prevent predators from spotting them.
They are best known for their enlarged and ornate pronotum, expanded into often fantastic shapes that enhance their camouflage or mimicry, often resembling plant thorns (thus the commonly used name of "thorn bugs" for a number of treehopper species).
Treehoppers have specialized muscles in the hind femora that unfurl to generate sufficient force to jump.
Treehoppers have pointy, tube-shaped mouthparts that they use to pierce plant stems and feed upon sap. The young can frequently be found on herbaceous shrubs and grasses, while the adults more often frequent hardwood tree species.
Excess sap becomes concentrated as honeydew, which often attracts ants.
Some species have a well-developed ant mutualism, and these species are normally gregarious as well, which attracts more ants.
The ants provide protection from predators.
Treehoppers mimic thorns to prevent predators from spotting them.
