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Malagasy Lantern Bug Nymph

Zanna madagascariensis

Description:

A small very strange creature found at the base of a tree in Anja Reserve, Madagaskar

Habitat:

Anja is huddled into the base of a cliff, and much of the reserve is dominated by enormous fallen rocks which have come to rest at the base of the escarpment. This makes for dramatic scenery and lots of sheltered habitat in the pocket of forest that has established between the vast boulders.

18 Comments

tmvdh
tmvdh 9 years ago

Pam, you are most welcome!

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

thanks torsten for the ID correction and for all your help. MUCH appreciated!

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

thank you RiekoS and VFT...

Caleb Steindel
Caleb Steindel 9 years ago

excellent finding pam!

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

Added a photo of the terrain in the Anja Reserve. These bugs were found on a tree at the base of the rocks.

tmvdh
tmvdh 9 years ago

Hi Pam, the common name of these beauties is Malagasy Lantern Bug (nymphs).

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

Thanks Rob, yes I was really excited to see these strange bugs. Always looking for unusual things!

RiekoS
RiekoS 9 years ago

Very interesting.

tmvdh
tmvdh 9 years ago

Yes Pam, the lantern bugs belong to the planthoppers.

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

thanks Cindy. I added it to the Hoppers Mission. Had no idea that this was a hopper!

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

Thanks malcome... they surely do look like they are from another planet. So tiny and they display such detail.

RobThacker
RobThacker 9 years ago

Very cool find, congrats Pam.

Wonderful! This is a great series of Lantern Bugs! Please consider adding to The Hoppers mission :)

tmvdh
tmvdh 9 years ago

Hi,
it seems that the correct name is Zanna madagascariensis (Pyrops madagascariensis seems to be a synonyme).

bayucca
bayucca 9 years ago

Sorry, Pam! Fly is a mistake, should be Lantern Bug Nymph.

pamsai
pamsai 9 years ago

thanks bayucca and Fyn for coming up with the ID...

Interesting and very unusual. I would assume the larger one with the most orange is a later instar? I would agree with Fyn, though I know nothing of these creatures, they look like from another planet!

Fyn Kynd
Fyn Kynd 9 years ago

Lantern bug nymphs, maybe?

pamsai
Spotted by
pamsai

Province de Fianarantsoa, Madagascar

Spotted on May 24, 2014
Submitted on Jun 6, 2014

Spotted for Mission

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Reference

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