Aphrophora Spittlebug

Description:

Froghopper of about 5mm in length. Brown with white stripes forming a wide V-shape at the sides of the abdomen. Its posture in these pictures reminds me of a bird. Aphrophoridae (Evans, 1946) is a family in Cercopoidea. Aphrophora auropilosa is the only species I found that has been reported in the Philippines. The froghoppers, or the superfamily Cercopoidea, are a group of Hemipteran insects, in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. These families are best known for the nymph stage, which produces a cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit; the nymphs are therefore commonly known as spittlebugs and their froth as cuckoo spit, frog spit or snake spit. Wikipedia.

Habitat:

Backyard, spotted on a leaf of a heliconia plant.

Notes:

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrophorid.... Distribution: http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/cercopid.... Images: http://potokito-myshot.blogspot.com/2012..., http://potokito-myshot.blogspot.com/2012.... These images are most probably Aphrophora auropilosa basing on the distribution report.