Planthoppers: There's Beauty In Things Small

Most gardeners think of leafhoppers and planthoppers as insects to be kept out of their gardens. Australia is blessed with an abundance of species in many families. When viewed up close their intricacy in shape and colour can be appreciated. The great majority of species have no interest in garden plants and are tied to certain hosts. Many have associations with other insects. As with many Australian insects, large numbers of species remain to be described and documented. Several have been dealt with in this blog from time to time but an array of species makes the point stressed above. I am grateful to Dr Murray Fletcher for his help in identifications. Further information and identification can be made from the AustralianPlanthopper website.

 Ishidaella anemolua (Kirkaldy), Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Cicadellini

Lophops saccharida (Kirkaldy), Lophopidae

Rentinus sp., Fulgoridae: Amyclinae

Unknown genus Derbidae: Otiocerinae; Zoraidini

Eurymeoloides punctata (Signoret): Cicadellidae; Eurymelinae; Eurymelini

Conoguinula coeruleopennis (Fabricius), Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae: Cicadellini 

Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae Unknown genus. Group needs work!

Euryaulax carnifex (Fabricius), Sugarcane Froghopper, Cercopidae; Cercopinae

Hasta hastata Kirkaldy, Dictyopharidae; Dictyopharinae

Hasta beak

 Olonia sp. Eurybrachidae: Platybrachinae; Platybrachini

 Olonia sp. Eurybrachidae: Platybrachinae; Platybrachini

Olonia sp. Eurybrachidae: Platybrachinae; Platybrachini, nymph

Olonia sp. Eurybrachidae: Platybrachinae; Platybrachini being tended by ants. Sugary exudates of the hopper are fed upon by these Camponotus sp. ants.

 Rhotidoides sp., Cicadellidae: Tartessinae: Thymbrini