A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Scamandra polychroma
At first, I thought this Hopper was being attacked by the Ants but according to our Guide, the Ants are actually feeding off the Hopper.
Pic #3, #4 and #5 are of another similar Planthopper which I was able to get very close-up to have better pictures of this beauty with red eyes.
Thanks, @bayucca and @Marta for the ID.
The guide did said they produce honeydew which Ants and Cockroaches will feeds from, but he wasn't sure why this Hopper do that and what benefits it gets from providing food to other insects :D
I saw quite a few of this, but all during night walk.
Albert: I found the ID (see above) and indeed they produce honeydew. Cool spotting!
So the hopper is in this sense like an aphid, meaning that it provides some substance that the ants like feeding from? if so, is very interesting! :-)
Spotted on Jun 28, 2014
Submitted on Jul 6, 2014
+1
