AnimaLPHABET - [B]razilian Treehopper

Day #2

Today we have the Brazilian Treehopper(Bocydium globulare), known for it's distinct eyes-like features on its head. Unfortunately though, The "eyes" aren't really eyes they aren't really much at all just hollow spheres made of chitin, a substance common in arthropods. Brazilian Treehoppers are solitary creatures which means that they spend most of their time alone (awwww :( ) unless it's for mating and raising their young.

The Life Cycle

The Brazilian Treehopper follows the most basic insect life cycle.

1. Eggs are laid singly or in masses in either the bark of the tree or on the surface of the host plant. If the eggs are laid on the surface of the host plant the mother covers the eggs in a frothy substance that hardens in time.
2. After hatching, the babies or nymphs emerges from the egg.
3. Then the nymph undergoes its first out of five molts, Molting in insects is shedding the rigid exoskeleton to make room for growth.
4. The nymph repeats the process of molting and growing until finally after its fifth and final molt, a fully adult Brazilian Treehopper emerges.

The Diet
Brazilian Treehoppers are omnivorous creatures mostly spotted hanging out under some Glory Bush leaves.

The Home
Brazilian Treehoppers are tropical creatures and have been spotted in Northern and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia. Europe is an exception, only Three species of treehoppers have been sighted in Europe. These little guys stay high on the canopy of trees making sightings really difficult.

The Facts

• Brazilian Treehopper is one of the weirdest looking of the all treehopper species.
• There are aroun 3,200 species of treehoppers.
• Brazilian Trehoppers have not been on the endangered list.
• Brazilian Treehoppers have been around for over 40 million years.

Disclaimer: The facts about the creature featured were not my original works but rather a compilation and simplification of said facts from different articles read on the internet. Cited below are the sources that I used.

Sources:
Image 1 | Image 2 | Facts | Facts | Facts