Hemiptera

Peanut-headed Lanternfly (Fulgora sp.) - Tambopata, Peru - December 2008

Lanternflies are a predominantly Asian family with a few representatives found in South America. The species shown here is probably either Fulgora laternaria or the very similar F. lampetris.

Peanut-headed Lanternfly (Fulgora sp.)

Wax-tailed Hopper (Pterodictya reticularis)

Tambopata, Peru - December 2008

The long wax secretions from the abdomen of the Wax-tailed Hopper act as decoys for predators as they will break off if grabbed and allow the bug to escape, leaving the would-be predator with nothing more than a mouthful of wax. There are some butterfly caterpillars that specialize in eating the wax secretions and spend all their time as larvae living on the back of the lanternfly.