Comments on: Treehoppers

Treehoppers

dhruva — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:31:35 -0800

Treehoppers (a flickr set)

By: fleetmouse

fleetmouse — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:37:25 -0800

They look like viking cicadas. LITERAL vikings.

By: jimmythefish

jimmythefish — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:03:50 -0800

I WANT ANTS ON MY SIDE TOO HOW DO YOU DO IT TREEHOPPERS.

By: marxchivist

marxchivist — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:09:37 -0800

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

By: mullingitover

mullingitover — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:28:06 -0800

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

By: Joe Beese

Joe Beese — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:46:03 -0800

Next time, you might want to add a "HORRIFYING LOATHSOME CRAWLIES" warning.

By: hifiparasol

hifiparasol — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:52:35 -0800

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.

By: captainsohler

captainsohler — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:21:11 -0800

this one looks regal

By: captainsohler

captainsohler — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:21:56 -0800

thanks hifiparasol!!!

By: hifiparasol

hifiparasol — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:50:53 -0800

You're welcome! ...?

By: Bort

Bort — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

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.

By: buriednexttoyou

buriednexttoyou — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:32:42 -0800

Ditto mullingitover. Ennui turned into EYES POPPING OUT OF HEAD.

By: gamera

gamera — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:48:06 -0800

Oh yes. I also love that there is a Stupid Treehopper. "Stupid treehoppers, eatin mah birch tree!"

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:18:30 -0800

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?

By: Kronos_to_Earth

Kronos_to_Earth — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:06:54 -0800

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.

By: dhruva

dhruva — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:25:25 -0800

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.

By: librarylis

librarylis — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:28:34 -0800

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....

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:25:16 -0800

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.

By: SneakyArab

SneakyArab — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:23:37 -0800

I find these things absolutely terrifying.

By: gorgor_balabala

gorgor_balabala — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:13:44 -0800

I find the ants who swarm and eat them terrifying. They're like MBA's piling onto a poor, peaceloving vegetarian BFA.

By: sneebler

sneebler — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:44:22 -0800

Score!