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Spongophorus ballista
This species of Treehopper does a wonderful waltz before mating. They walk around each other creating beautiful geometric designs and shadows. The male climbs up over the female and traverses both sides of her entire armature (second and third pictures). Surprisingly, that doesn't tip her over. The last picture shows how one of these looked on a bush when I found it. It was sitting head down near a node and right next to a piece of dried brown vegetation, increasing the effect of his own camouflage. Family Membracidae, this one is often called the Horse-shoe Shaped Treehopper.
Heavy shrubbery along the highway between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez, km 11.5, 865 meters.
Spotted on Aug 12, 2013
Submitted on Sep 2, 2013
48 Comments (1–25)
Thank you Antonio! :)
Once again, another wonderful series.
Congratulations and thank you, Lauren!
Thank you so much Luis and Gilma!
WOW!! and where was I!?? Incredible...how did I missed that spotting!!??
Thank you, LaurenZarate for the beautiful series.
I don't know where I was 6 months ago, amazing SOTD Lauren!
Thank you Arya :)
These are amazing
Thank you Jemma and Rustic41 :))
That is one strange looking critter!
unbelievable!
Thank you so much Sergio :)
Congratulations, Lauren. You - and they - really deserved this SoTD.
Hahahaha....good name...that makes it a lucky dance for both.
Horseshoe waltz.
Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments and favorings. Thank you Karen, Mark, Sharni, Noel, Billo, Ashley, Satyen, Tina, Surekha, Rieko, Leah, Nuwan, Adarsha, Carol, Arlanda, Bernadette, bherath, Sckel, Reza, Viv, Maria and Namitha. :)
Congratulations on SOTD, Lauren.
Wonderful series!
Amazing!
Congratulations !
Congratulations, Lauren, is so amazing
amazing !!! congrats Lauren!!!!
Awesome series, Lauren! Congrats!!
Wonderful, congrats!!!
Wonderful news. Congratulations!
Wow! That is a wonderful sharing and very informative as always :)
Congratulations Lauren :)