Common and Unusual nymphs

  • Updated
    12/04/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Bugs, planthopper Click to enlarge image
Green Face Wattle Hopper, Hackerobrachys viridiventris Image: Rachel Nightingale
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Super Family
    Fulgoroidea
    Infraorder
    Flugoromorpha
    Order
    Hemiptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Hexapoda
    Phylum
    Arthropoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia

A plant hopper is an insect in the group of Fulgoromorpha within the bug order Hemiptera. The group contains only a single superfamily Fulgoroidea.

The Superfamily Fulgoroidea contains large number of insects of very diverse forms. All of them are strong jumpers and commonly called Planthoppers. Their antennae situated beneath eyes. There is a unique character in this group: for all species, the base segment of the antenna is much thicker than the rest of the antenna. Wax plates common in females for producing wax to cover eggs. The nymphs usually have two long tails. Nymphs and adults are plant-feeders, feed by sucking the sap of the host tree.

Bugs, plant hopper
Planthopper nymph, Winston Hills, NSW Image: Sabine Tramaseur
© Australian Museum