This is a nymph stage of Cicadella viridis, one of the leaf-hoppers, about 8mm long. The stunning purple-blue colour is absolutely accurate. The adult is a wonderful powdered turquoise, and I'll show it soon.
My first reaction on seeing the following shot was 'bird-dropping, full of seeds', but it quickly resolved into a cluster of nymphs of the Forest Shieldbug - Pentatoma rufipes. These are common enough, but I hadn't seen the 'huddling' habit before.
My next thought was that they were on some common prey, such as a caterpillar, but no: as I touched the leaf they dispersed, leaving nothing behind. Lurking close-by I found a later nymph stage of the same Shieldbug:
This is Calocoris stysi, one of the Mirid bugs:
6 comments:
Splendid! What is the violet wonder on (i.e. how big is it)? Can't wait for the adult :-)
I think (THINK, mind you) that it's on Lathyrus pratensis. I've gone through all the the other possibilities in my head. Size: 8mm, as stated.
Here's a pic of the adult from last year:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow15/aug16.htm
Stuart
Great stuff, love the pic of the leaf-hopper, and love the blog, it's really a great insight into the Irish and Donegal countryside.
Mick
The leafhopper is amazing. I only seem to find grey ones. I took a pic yesterday of a mirid bug but couldn't find it in my books so dropping in here was yet again both educational and inspiring.
On inspection of the locality, I've now decided the leaf-hopper is on the growing tip of Cleavers (Gallium aparine). I'm much happier with that.
Stuart
"I've now decided the leaf-hopper is on the growing tip of Cleavers (Gallium aparine). I'm much happier with that."
Me too. Thanks. [I think 'Galium' only has one L but wouldn't swear to it :-)].
I actually think the leaf hopper nymph is more attractive than the adult in your pic - nice beastie.
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