Treehoppers

January 12, 2009 10:31 AM

Treehoppers (a flickr set)
posted by dhruva (20 comments total)

They look like viking cicadas.

LITERAL vikings.
posted by fleetmouse at 10:37 AM on January 12, 2009

I WANT ANTS ON MY SIDE TOO HOW DO YOU DO IT TREEHOPPERS.
posted by jimmythefish at 11:03 AM on January 12, 2009

I can't decide if some of these are cute or horrifying. If this one had a smile he could go on Cute Overload.
posted by marxchivist at 11:09 AM on January 12, 2009

Seriously, a post that's just a link to a flickr photo set?
...
(clicks link)

Ok this is awesome.
posted by mullingitover at 11:28 AM on January 12, 2009

Next time, you might want to add a "HORRIFYING LOATHSOME CRAWLIES" warning.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:46 AM on January 12, 2009 [2 favorites]

Yeah, the whole "having an entire colony of ants as personal protection" thing is badass. Treehoppers rock, possibly harder than pangolins.

I mean, seriously: How does this guy not get tail by the freight-train-load? And does this guy know that Klingons use him as a ceremonial weapon? Seriously.
posted by hifiparasol at 11:52 AM on January 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

this one looks regal
posted by captainsohler at 1:21 PM on January 12, 2009

thanks hifiparasol!!!
posted by captainsohler at 1:21 PM on January 12, 2009

You're welcome!

...?
posted by hifiparasol at 1:50 PM on January 12, 2009

Hundreds of Treehopper photos here.

The Stupid Treehopper (Carynota stupida).

I took this picture of an eared Treehopper when I stopped for a break from a walk, took off my hat, and noticed him sitting on it.
posted by Bort at 2:30 PM on January 12, 2009 [3 favorites]

Ditto mullingitover. Ennui turned into EYES POPPING OUT OF HEAD.
posted by buriednexttoyou at 4:32 PM on January 12, 2009

Oh yes. I also love that there is a Stupid Treehopper. "Stupid treehoppers, eatin mah birch tree!"
posted by gamera at 6:48 PM on January 12, 2009

Omg those are amazing bugs! Such neat geometric shapes, very Picasso, primordial geometry, a Portuguese Man O' War shape. A belle laide, beautiful-ugly combination. And definitely martial design. Viking bugs is apt. Treehoppers as a name lacks dignity and are they actually hopping critters? Such extraordinary variety too.

Glad they're not bigger. And 3,200 species!? How did I get to be this old and never know about these sculpturally designed insect gems? Fascinating also to learn about the treehopper-ant mutualism. That sounds like a useful word, wonder why I never heard it before? Would that also apply to a Bush-Rove thing?
posted by nickyskye at 7:18 PM on January 12, 2009

I checked through a Treehopper FAQ , and it looks like they only look horrifying, unless you're walking around bare-footed.... Some of them are even sort comical. Cool bugs.

And, um, another saltatorial, arborial species: the Tree Kangaroo. Honest.
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 8:06 PM on January 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

wow!, thanks for those links nickyskye.

I just found this awesome page which has a few sound recordings of treehoppers. Theyre unearthly. I am more and more convinced they may not be of this planet after all.
posted by dhruva at 8:25 PM on January 12, 2009

I can't decide if some of these are cute or horrifying. If this one had a smile he could go on Cute Overload.

Yeah, in the Cute or Sad category....
posted by librarylis at 9:28 PM on January 12, 2009

Funny you should say that, dhruva. We had a very plain version of these in Michigan. I called them 'martian bugs', because they looked alien, and they appear out of nowhere, and disappear as quickly (I assume they jump suddenly and fast). I don't recall ever seeing any of these fancier versions.
posted by Goofyy at 10:25 PM on January 12, 2009

I find these things absolutely terrifying.
posted by SneakyArab at 6:23 AM on January 13, 2009

I find the ants who swarm and eat them terrifying. They're like MBA's piling onto a poor, peaceloving vegetarian BFA.
posted by gorgor_balabala at 9:13 AM on January 13, 2009

Score!
posted by sneebler at 11:44 AM on January 13, 2009