Higher classification Fulgora | Scientific name Fulgora laternaria Rank Species | |
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Similar Fulgora, Insect, Fulgoridae, True bugs, Pyrops | ||
Lantern fly fulgora laternaria
The fulgorid insect Fulgora laternaria (often misspelled "lanternaria"), is a planthopper known by a large variety of common names including lantern fly, peanut bug, peanut-headed lanternfly, alligator bug, machaca, chicharra-machacuy, cocoposa (in Spanish) and jequitiranaboia (in the Amazon region and elsewhere in Brazil).
Contents
- Lantern fly fulgora laternaria
- lantern fly fulgora laternaria
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- References
lantern fly fulgora laternaria
Description
Fulgora laternaria can reach a length of 85–90 millimetres (3.3–3.5 in), with a wingspan up to 100–150 millimetres (3.9–5.9 in). This insect has a protuberance at its head as long as 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in), looking like a peanut and showing false eyes to resemble that of a lizard or a serpent. The insect was originally - and mistakenly - believed to be luminescent. When attacked, it protects itself by displaying large, yellow, fake eyes on its hind wings to frighten the aggressor, and releases a foul-smelling substance. Adults can be found from June to December. They feed on the sap of plants, mainly from some trees as Hymenaea courbaril, Simarouba amara and Zanthoxylum species.
Several very similar species in the genus occur from Central to South America, and many museum and commercial specimens identified as laternaria are actually other species.
Distribution and habitat
This species inhabits tropical rainforests in Mexico, Central America and South America.
