http://www.howitworksdaily.com How It Works 009
Fibre-optic
nymphs
Astheirnamesuggests,planthoppernymphs
spendtheirtimeleapingbetweenleaves.Before
reachingadulthood,planthoppernymphs
(Ricaniidae)extrudea waxymaterialfromtheir
abdomentocreatestrandswhichcanappearas
naturalfibre-opticspines.Actingasa visual
warningtopotentialpredators,thefannedwaxy
spindlesattherearalsohelpplanthopper
nymphsglidebetweenleaves.Lessthanfive
millimetreslong,somespeciesof
planthoppernymphs,suchasIssus
coleoptratus, canjumpuptoa
metrehighina singleleap.