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Project Noah Nature School
Eurymela distincta
Medium sized to large species (6-14mm in length). E. fenestrata and E. distincta are two of the most common and best known eurymelids. These two species are closely related to each other and differ in appearance only in the amount of reddish or cream colouring around the dorsum and base of the tegmina. Gumhoppers have a symbiotic relationship with ants, which they feed in return for protection.
Dry sclerophyl bushland, Maria Island National Park.
The blue tinge on the underwing is probably from the self-application of brochosomes produced in it's own gut. http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~rakitov/brocho...
Spotted on Sep 1, 2012
Submitted on Sep 3, 2012
4 Comments
I've noticed that too. And with ours if we move or touch the branch the ants move quite quickly towards us. Nice setup. I'm watching now to see if the team can handle the european wasps.
I know. Nature. It's thought of everything.
I also read that these gum-treehoppers really don't hop anymore. Rather they just move behind a branch to evade predators. Apparently this is an adaptation to living with ant protectors, where fleeing is not your best move since it takes you away from your defenders.
This explains why this one was so willing to stay put despite my lens in its face.
These creatures just get more and more interesting. Organic bucky balls... what else!
Great read re brochosomes.