7 August 2008 - Spiny Forest, Renalia Project, Ifaty, Madagascar.

Nymphs of the Madagascan Flatid Leaf-bug (Phromnia rosea).

These nymphs excrete a sort of white waxy substance which 'grows' from the animal like long wipsy feathers. If a bird of other predator makes a grab for one of these insects it gets a beakful of white nothing, and the animal hops away.

For those who like the biological details:
Click a link and you'll go to the Flickr photo page for that rank in the biological classification.

Phylum: Arthropoda; Arthropods / Geleedpotigen
Class: Insecta; Insects / Insekten
Order: Hemiptera; True Bugs / Halfvleugeligen of Snavelvleugeligen
Suborder: Fulgoromorpha; Planthoppers / Lantaarndragerachtigen
Family: Flatidae; Flatid Planthoppers / ??
Genus: Phromnia; Flatid Leaf-bugs/ ??
Species: Phromnia rosea; Madagascan Flatid Leaf-bug / ??

Read the blog about these bugs: wildlifespotting.blogspot.com/2010/09/madagascar-day-14-w...