Keeled Treehoppers, adults (Antianthe expansa)
While living in a small, one-bedroom garden unit, which was a part of a large home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, one of the things I loved to do was walk throughout the one-acre property, which had a massive rubber tree, at least a half-dozen different species of banana trees, papaya trees, a cacao tree, lime trees, a plot of pineapple plants, and all manner of tropical flora. I found a plethora of amazing insects and spiders, including these Keeled Treehoppers! They fascinated me, as I had never seen anything like them before.
Unfortunately, they turned out to be an invasive species of sap-sucking insects, meaning they feed on the sugary fluids of the plants, and can spread to other plants. The owners of the property were not as thrilled as I was to see these insects and promptly cut the plants to the ground and burned them to destroy the insects.
Keeled Treehoppers, adults (Antianthe expansa)
While living in a small, one-bedroom garden unit, which was a part of a large home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, one of the things I loved to do was walk throughout the one-acre property, which had a massive rubber tree, at least a half-dozen different species of banana trees, papaya trees, a cacao tree, lime trees, a plot of pineapple plants, and all manner of tropical flora. I found a plethora of amazing insects and spiders, including these Keeled Treehoppers! They fascinated me, as I had never seen anything like them before.
Unfortunately, they turned out to be an invasive species of sap-sucking insects, meaning they feed on the sugary fluids of the plants, and can spread to other plants. The owners of the property were not as thrilled as I was to see these insects and promptly cut the plants to the ground and burned them to destroy the insects.