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Broad-headed Sharpshooter

Oncometopia sp.

Description:

This looks like some sort of Sharpshooter to me, but I couldn't get a side photo. Possibly Oncometopia nigricans or Oncometopia orbona. The white spots are Brochosomes, intricately structured microscopic granules secreted by leafhoppers (the family Cicadellidae of the insect order Hemiptera) and typically found on their body surface and, more rarely, eggs. It seems the brochosomes protect the insect from it's own sticky waste. (thank you Machi for the lead)

Habitat:

tropical rainforest

Notes:

Brochosomes are intricately structured microscopic granules secreted by leafhoppers (the family Cicadellidae of the insect order Hemiptera) and typically found on their body surface and, more rarely, eggs. They spread this anal secretion over their body after each new moult. http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/...

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6 Comments

pamsai
pamsai 8 years ago

Hmmm, thanks Machi. There are so many ! I'll have a look through.

Machi
Machi 8 years ago

Sorry pamsai; I am not sure. You could take a look at this site: http://naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk/... On that page and the next one there are all the Oncometopia species that you can look through and they have species distribution as well

pamsai
pamsai 8 years ago

thanks FredLuizRomeriro

pamsai
pamsai 8 years ago

thanks Machi. Possibly Oncometopia nigricans or Oncometopia orbona ?

FredLuizRomeiro
FredLuizRomeiro 8 years ago

Beautiful !

Machi
Machi 8 years ago

Oncometopia species maybe? The white wing patches are clumps of wax called brochosomes, if that helps in your search.

pamsai
Spotted by
pamsai

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Spotted on Feb 26, 2016
Submitted on Feb 26, 2016

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