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Ricania speculum
Ricania speculum (Walker 1851), called Black Planthopper, of family Ricaniidae (Ricaniid Planthoppers), The wing patches are actually transparent panels. In these pictures, the transparent wing patches show the brilliant colors of the Canna Lily flower. Length is about 8 mm / 0.3 inch. Wingspan is 18 mm / 0.7 inch. The specimen darkens after death. The family Ricaniidae is a group of hemipteran insects, containing over 40 genera and 400 species world-wide. Thus, they are one of the smaller families in the planthopper superfamily (Fulgoroidea). The highest diversity is in tropical Africa and Asia and in Australia, with a few species occurring in the Palearctic. Source: Wikimedia.
Spotted on a Canna Lily flower, in the garden. In Biñan Laguna, Philippines.
In the Philippines, R. speculum is considered a minor pest of coffee plants: http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=Ywc5....
Spotted on Oct 9, 2012
Submitted on Oct 11, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks Leana. It's on a Canna Lily (var. Yellow King Humbert).
Nice photo Agnes! What kind of flower is it resting on?