A tiny planthopper, possibly family Derbidae on the underside of a leaf surrounded with wax secretions. Carbohydrate which is surplus to their energy

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A tiny planthopper, possibly family Derbidae on the underside of a leaf surrounded with wax secretions. Carbohydrate which is surplus to their energy requirements is converted to wax and is secreted by glands on the body surface, presumably to provide protection from predators. Photographed in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

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Size: 5472px × 3648px
Photo credit: © DR MORLEY READ/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, amazon, aphid, biology, bug, defence, derbidae, ecuador, entomology, fauna, forest, hemiptera, hopper, insect, jungle, leaf, nature, neotropical, parasite, pest, plant, planthopper, predation, predator, protection, rainforest, species, tree, tropical, wax, waxy, wildlife, woolly, zoology