Flatid Planthopper Nymphs, Ormenoides venusta. Macro.
(Click picture for larger view)
"Music is in all growing things;These nymphs produce a powdery white substance on vines and plant stems. They are small at around 5mm in length and I believe the red structures are egg casings. These were in the wild vines behind our fence in Virginia so don't worry, I don't think their range is this far north. The adults are slightly larger, flat, all white and hang in a row from a plant stem like a row of white Christmas ornaments. These nymphs look as if they are dressed for a ball with white fur and red ruby accessories, but they really make a mess on the plant; I wonder if the ladybugs would enjoy these for lunch as much as the aphids. They are in the same group of insects.
And underneath the silky wings
Of smallest insects there is stirred
A pulse of air that must be heard;
Earth's silence lives, and throbs, and sings."
~ George Parsons Lathrop
Submission for MacroDay topic "insect". (end of post)
