I particularly enjoy little insects that generally escape our observation. This little critter was photographed by Tonya Smith. It was crawling along a stem although with those feet it looks more like paddling. This was a totally new species to me, a Two-marked Treehopper, Enchenopa binotata, aka Thornbug. Before we get into details, you have got to see it in action on her Youtube video.
I often have a hard time identifying small insects down to species and in this treehopper I have a good excuse. This is called a species complex rather than a species. Reading the bottom line in the Wikipedia explanation, it basically means there are variations that can't be identified down to species and are identified by the plant they are feeding on.
These are "true bugs" or Hemiptera equipped with the standard sucking mouth parts. They are sap feeders including their 5 generations of nymphs, but they don't cause much damage, measuring in at around 8mm (1/4th inch) when full grown. They rarely hop but do fly between food sources, especially when the males are looking for love. Females tend to stay on their birth plant.
This little package has a lot of talent vocal talent. Males croon a love song to catch the ladies attention, the sounds traveling through the plant. Her response is described as a grunting sound. She will then lay her fertilized eggs in a slit she makes in the plant with her ovipositor. Females frequently gather on a stem with egg masses covered with a protective foam called egg froth.
 |
| Treehopper eggs - Tom Murray |
There is a lot more fascinating things to learn about these little thorn heads. I would suggest you start with the INaturalist page, then turn to Buglady at UWM for more photographs and details.
