Swimming Bug?

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bankst
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Swimming Bug?

Post by bankst »

I found this unfortunate creature face-down in our pond at the weekend. It had me stumped for a while, but the wing cases and blunt nose got me thinking about froghoppers. I can't find any photos of froghoppers with wings akimbo like this, but am I on the right lines?

Cheers,
Tom.
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Breaststroke.JPG
SteveMcBill
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:15 am
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire
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Re: Swimming Bug?

Post by SteveMcBill »

Definitely a planthopper Tom.

A planthopper is any insect in the infraorder Fulgoromorpha within the Hemiptera

Hard to identify it from the photograph but it looks like it may be the commonest of our 'hoppers' - the one whose nymphal stage causes 'Cuckoo Spit' on low plants - this the Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius).

See over at: http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/homoptera ... arius.html

Steve.

bankst
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Swimming Bug?

Post by bankst »

Many thanks Steve.
According to 'British Bugs' this is "A spectacularly variable species, with many dramatically different colour forms." so I guess this is another one, also from my garden, (see attached). The holly leaf gives it some scale.

Cheers,
Tom.
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Another Plant Hopper.JPG
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