Hairy Spikes

[Cuong]

Found my chile pepper plant covered with these spiky treehopper nymphs.

http://lh3.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QP2UGhTAI/AAAAAAAAE64/3-NpfPnszBU/treehopper1.jpg?imgmax=512

The ants enjoy the honeydew excreted by these hoppers.
http://lh4.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QP4kGhTBI/AAAAAAAAE7A/NL2vOZkQUgk/treehoppers-ants1.jpg?imgmax=512

The adult treehoppers looks nothing like nymphs.
http://lh3.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QP6UGhTCI/AAAAAAAAE7I/74_a1QCq6fQ/treehopperadult.JPG?imgmax=720

This ant is trying its magic massage to coax a honeydew drop out of the hopper nymph.
http://lh6.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QQdEGhTEI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/7YlQqfbF75U/hopper-ant1.JPG?imgmax=720

A couple close up looks:
http://lh4.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QQhkGhTFI/AAAAAAAAE7g/AMk0YOdtoz4/treehoppers.JPG?imgmax=576

http://lh4.google.com/CuongMNguyen/R5QQlkGhTGI/AAAAAAAAE7o/zguwt84XC84/treehopper.JPG?imgmax=512

I forgot to check the ISO setting, so the last 3 are quite grainy at ISO1600. These treehopper nymphs are spiky and quite hairy as well. It's hard to avoid the light reflection on their shiny bodies.

Cuong

[ivar]

Wow, what a cool creature! They look a bit scary, even though they are that small :lol3 There are quite a few of them on such a small area as well. This plant is indoors, you say? :uhoh

[Skippy]

Found my chile pepper plant covered with these spiky treehopper nymphs.

The ants enjoy the honeydew excreted by these hoppers.

The adult treehoppers looks nothing like nymphs.

This ant is trying its magic massage to coax a honeydew drop out of the hopper nymph.

A couple close up looks:

I forgot to check the ISO setting, so the last 3 are quite grainy at ISO1600. These treehopper nymphs are spiky and quite hairy as well. It's hard to avoid the light reflection on their shiny bodies.

Cuong

Ohhhhh how cool are these :clap
I've never seen these as nymphs, only the Matured ones.

They remind me of Lady Bug larvae, how different they look to the parent.

Interesting to see that the ants also milk these young ones.

Thanks for sharing these images Cuong, they are a first for me :clap

.... Skippy :D
.

[Cuong]

Wow, what a cool creature! They look a bit scary, even though they are that small :lol3 There are quite a few of them on such a small area as well. This plant is indoors, you say? :uhoh

The plant is definitely outdoors. These nymphs are about 3mm or less, but they are numerous.

[Cuong]

Ohhhhh how cool are these :clap
I've never seen these as nymphs, only the Matured ones.

They remind me of Lady Bug larvae, how different they look to the parent.

Interesting to see that the ants also milk these young ones.

Thanks for sharing these images Cuong, they are a first for me :clap

.... Skippy :D
.

Thanks, Skippy. We know metamorphosis in the insect world is nothing short of dramatic and quite amazing and miraculous.

Cuong

[Lord Vetinari]

Good spot and shots. Looks like you have ants milking honeydew from them as well just like they do with aphids (ah should have read the photo notes).

What do you like best the plant or the bugs- hard decision :)

Brian V.

[Cuong]

Good spot and shots. Looks like you have ants milking honeydew from them as well just like they do with aphids (ah should have read the photo notes).

What do you like best the plant or the bugs- hard decision :)

Brian V.

Thanks, Brian. I never realized the pepper plant is quite hairy. I like the bugs best. My 1st time seeing anything like that, thanks to macro photography.

Cuong

[Vivax]

What incredible looking things they are! Love the close up shots but as you say its a shame about the grain. I'm always forgeting to check the ISO :doh