Winged and Furry… !

The cerogenes auricoma, the “chicken bug”, is part of the family of Fulgorid Planthoppers.  With no common name, the latin translation of its scientific name is “wax producer with golden hair”.  Apparently native Indians of the region use the yellow wax on the head and thorax of this insect to make a dye.

They fly in swarms very slowly and gracefully, making them seem like they are floating.  Their size range from 1/4″ to 4″ . They generally have fore-wing cryptic in a shade of opaque brown, and they pose on tree trunks or shrubs.  As protective coloration they show red, orange or yellow at the base of the hind wings and have stains in the form of eyes.  Their feather-like wax structures on the abdomen serve as protection against predators, working as camouflage resembling the common tree moss of the region.

Some weird winged insects!

Otiocerus Leaf-Hoppers

Otiocerus means “ridiculously superfluous”. This leaf-hoppers attack a wide range of trees, shrubs and grasses. However, the nymphs and adults frequently suck the sap of only one or a few kinds of plants. Besides stunting plant growth by causing loss of sap, some leaf-hoppers introduce a toxin into the plant as they feed; others introduce disease organisms.  The thickened part of the antennae is very short and ends with a bristle and are divided into two filaments, which are twisted into weird shapes; it has two simple eyes present on the front of the head; and a suction tube at the bottom. The nymphs feed on fungi while adults live by sucking sap. Many adults are recognizable by their habit of holding up their wings.

Robber Flies

Robber flies have stout, spiny legs, a dense moustache of bristles on the face, and 3 simple eyes in a characteristic depression between their two large compound eyes ( eyes are built of many light-sensitive elements, each with its own refractive system and forming a portion of an image). The mystax helps protect the head and face. The antennae are short, 3-segmented, with a bristle-like structure called an arista. The short, strong proboscis is used to stab and inject victims with saliva containing neurotoxic and proteolytic enzymes which paralyze and digest the insides; the fly then sucks the liquefied meal through the proboscis. Robber flies are opportunistic predators, their diets often reflecting prey availability in a particular habitat. They are impressive predators that typically specialize in flying insects, including wasps, bees, and dragonflies; the prey may be larger than the robber fly itself. Most robber flies frequent sunny, open areas and are active during the warmest parts of the day and year. They perch on branches, logs, stones, or the ground, and rush out to attack when suitable prey flies by.