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Not a Firebug -a Froghopper!


Not a Firebug -a Froghopper!
Photo Information
Copyright: Morag Hamilton (lebois) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 68 W: 3 N: 81] (236)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-18
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/3.5, 30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-19 4:04
Viewed: 1005
Points: 11
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I think this little bug I photographed yesterday is a Firebug, although other photos I have seen of Firebugs show slightly different markings so I am not sure! Does any one know if I am correct?
Information if it is a Firebug
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder:Heteroptera
Family: Pyrrhocoridae
Genus: Pyrrhocoris
Species:P. apterus

Thanks in advance for any help!
Well thanks go to Rob & Actie who tell me it is not a Firebug but a Froghopper - Cercopis vulnerata. I think it is great that we have such a wealth of knowledge amongst the TN family.
Info re Froghopper:
The froghoppers are a group of Homopteran insects, in the Aphrophoridae, Cercopidae, Cixiidae, Delphacidae, Dictyopharidae, Issidae, Tettigometridae and other related families. They are best known for the nymph stage, which produces a cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit; the nymphs are therefore commonly known as spit bugs, spittlebugs, and their froth as cuckoo spit.

The froth serves a number of purposes. It hides the nymph from the view of predators, it insulates against heat and cold, thus providing thermal control and also moisture control. Without the froth the bug would quickly dry up. The nymphs pierce plants and suck sap causing damage. A few species are serious agricultural pests.

Adult froghoppers jump from plant to plant; some species can jump up to 70 cm vertically: a more impressive performance relative to body weight than fleas.
Info obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froghopper
elefantino, dew77, PDP, leboistoo has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Actiereactie: Thankslebois 1 04-19 15:04
To Robbrown: Thankslebois 1 04-19 15:00
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice shot!!
Good colors and composition.
Seems to be a little out of focus, but good.

Andrea

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-04-19 8:46]

Hello Morag!
Wonderful close up.I liked POV,colors,contrast between plant and bug,lighting,framing and composition a lot.
TFS...:-)

Nice colors and composition, I like the leaves.
It's not a Firebug but a froghopper, Cercopis vulnerata.

Hi Morag , what you have here is one of the more mysterious members of the cidica and Planthopper family no common name just (Cercopis vulnerata)
Seems to be a difficult insect to photograph as I have yet to see or even get a sharp image of one of these. TFS

  • Good 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-04-19 18:33]

Hello Morag, nice shot, the composition is excellent. The bug is a little soft in focus and the BG looks like it has been a little over processed or it was a large crop. Well done, looks forward to seeing more.

  • Great 
  • sily Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 238 W: 6 N: 391] (1893)
  • [2006-08-03 10:28]

Hi!
Nice photo of little criter and good frame choice,This bug has very interesting patern on the wings, I never saw something like this, thanks for the note!

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