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The Hoppers

2/22/2014

The world can be a very big and scary place for people. Imagine if insects were able to defy physics and be as large as us! I don't think mankind would exist today and if we did, we would not be at the top of the food chain.

Some insects appear to be out of a horror story where others from a fairytale. Some of these amazing insects are known as hoppers.

Issid Planthopper

The species I have encountered so far in Southern California and Alaska are not as eccentric as others found around the world but they're no less fascinating.

Like other insects, they have several instars (stages in between moults). When they've outgrown their exoskeleton, they need to moult (shed). They eclose (emerge) from the exuvia (shed exoskeleton), looking different and larger than before. Some before and afters can be extreme.

Planthopper nymph

The bad part of these diverse, little creatures is many are vectors of disease. Since they feed on plants, they can spread disease from plant to plant. If not spreading disease, they can damage plants by laying eggs deep in the branches or feeding on the roots as nymphs.

Cicada

The size of hoppers can make it very difficult to spot but many don't rely on size. Some mimic their surroundings as well. This Tamarix Leafhopper is colored and shaped like its host plant. It even stands on the plant in the same direction as the leaves.

Versute Sharpshooter

Froghoppers (aka Spittlebugs) are known for their "spit" on plants. The nymphs produce this spit which provides shelter, temperature control, humidity, and deters predators.

It's amazing how much spit they produce for such a small insect. The one on the right had the spit removed for the photo but it quickly foamed right out of sight.

Froghopper adult

Leafhoppers can often times can be found with parasites on them. Some are so infested that it hinders their movement. The one below looks almost clown-like with the bulbous, red mites.

Upright-winged Planthopper

I'll admit that most people won't ever see these hoppers in person. This is because most don't take the time to really SEE nature. Yes they're very tiny but if you do any gardening, you may catch a glimpse under a leaf.

Mating Leafhoppers

Buffalo Treehopper

I am absolutely fascinated with the hoppers! I'm not talking about grasshoppers. I'm referring to the Hoppers of the Auchenorrhyncha suborder or Free-living Hemipterans. This includes the superfamilies Cicadoidea (Cicadas, Leafhoppers, Froghoppers and Treehoppers) and Fulgoroidea (Planthoppers).

Ok, that's enough taxonomy. Hoppers are very small organisms, usually 3-7 mm long and are found on plants around the world. They have an incredibly varied appearance. Some are sleek and streamlined. Some are horned and tank-like.

Glassy-winged Sharpshooter eclosing

When some hoppers are immature, they have white, waxy filaments on the posterior abdominal segments. Every time I see them, I think of fiber optic lights on their butts :)

Leafhopper nymph

Another negative is the noise! While many have an inaudible sound to humans, others are very loud such as the Cicada. Some species emit a very loud "song". It is one of the loudest of all insects and can "sing" as loud as 120 dB.

Cicada's are also amazing for their longevity. Some can live as long as 17 years underground. Suddenly they emerge in massive numbers where they live only 4-6 weeks above ground. Yes, this can be creepy but you can't deny it's awesome!

Tamarix Leahopper

I was fortunate to spot and document the first Versute Sharpshooter west of Texas. It was in my own backyard! Many species are transported on nursery plants. It's possible this one appeared from a plant introduced nearby.

This species doesn't appear to be interested in blending in but may hide better when the red flowers are in bloom.

Froghopper nymph

They, like many other hoppers look very different when they're an adult as seen on the left.

Torpedo Bug Planthopper

The diversity within a family is surprising. Just look at the Torpedo Bug Planthopper, Upright-winged Planthopper and the Cixiid Planthopper.

Cixiid Planthopper

I spend hours looking under leaves, on branches and blades of grass for these critters and hope to find many more species!

They're thriving on your plants, like it or not. So take a good look outside for the little bugs and be thankful that they're tiny!

I have created a mission that compiles spottings of hoppers from around the world by citizen scientists. Please visit The Hoppers mission to see some of the most bizarre insects you will ever see!

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You've got some gall!

2/16/2014

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No, really! Do you see the galls?

Chances are, you've seen one before but figured it was just part of the plant that's decided to get a little crazy.

Well, galls are abnormal growths and there are a handful of causes but this blog is focusing on those caused by insects.

Crystalline Gall Wasp

The size, shape, color, texture, etc is all dependent on the combination of chemical and plant. Usually an insect species prefers a certain host plant or plants.

The appearance can be quite unique which allows identification to be fairly simple, even without seeing the insect.

Some are bold and threatening where others are soft and pretty.

Beaked Twig Gall Wasp

The timing of the injection is usually in Spring, when the plant is growing rapidly. This allows the gall to get large enough to host the growing larva.

The gall itself acts as a shelter for the larva and usually contains "food" inside such as starch.

The nutritional value of galls is quite high and some animals love to eat them. People can eat the larva in survival situations. People also make ink from the chemicals in various galls as well.

Live Oak Gallfly

Galls are created when an insect such as a wasp or midge, lays eggs in a fleshy part of a plant. Chemicals are released by either the adult or the larva that causes the plant to grow in that immediate area.

Sage Gall Midge

Eventually the larva mature and exit from the gall, leaving one or more holes.

The damage caused by the galls is usually minor although there are cases where dense populations of galls can cause more extensive, localized damage.

Gall Midge

The insects that create galls usually have the name of the host plant or a word to describe the galls appearance in addition to "gall" in their common name. Just look at the names on these images.

Gouty Stem Gall Wasp

Disc Gall Wasp

As I mentioned earlier, there are other causes for galls such as fungi, other plants, bacteria and viruses. I have yet to spot a gall made from these other sources.

Below are a few more photographs of galls I've encountered so far. There is a page dedicated to galls that I'll add more images to as I take them.

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... and this one is just right

2/10/2014

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Anna's Hummingbird nest and eggs

The next time you're sitting at home, take a look around. Most likely you have decorated it and made it look, feel and even smell a certain way that makes you comfortable. I believe the term nesting can be used to describe this, albeit loosely.

Some houses blend in to the environment where others are big, bright and high up on the hill that screams, "Look at me!". Let's face it, one style of home won't work for everyone due to location, resources and personal preference. We're all different and have different needs.

Well, people are not the only animals that create a personal nest. I think it's safe to say that we've all seen a few bird nests in trees but have you noticed their diversity?

Every species of bird has a different look of nest. It may be a subtle or drastic difference. It can be small like a hummingbird nest or large like a Bald Eagle's. Some are on the ground and some are up high. The materials used to make the nests are quite varied and influenced by similar factors as the homes of people although usually limited to what's available in the immediate area.

Western Gull

Bald Eagle nest and chick

Now people can live almost anywhere with additional means. This, in addition to population, is why humans are moving their "nests" further and further into wildlife habitats. Luckily, some animals have adapted quite well to human influence and build on man-made structures. Unfortunately this is not the case for all wildlife.

Another factor is location, location, location!
Where is the best place to put the nest that is protected from predators and the elements? Is it near a food and water source? People have decided that trucking in food and pumping in water to where we live is a better idea than living near natural resources.

Cliff Swallow

Leafcutter Bee

Resin Bee

Probably the most commonly known bee nest is the hive. They can be quite large such as this one filling a large crevice in a tree. Made of beeswax, they construct honeycombs to both house their young and store their food.

Western Honey Bee

I found a mud nest that was reused by another species. Yes, other animals recycle too! If only more people would... well that's a different subject for a different blog.

Building underground is becoming much more popular with people and some bees find this to be a great way to nest. The term for this, burrowing. Below, you can see the abdomen of the bee as it burrows into the ground.

Bee burrowing into the ground

It's not just birds that have nests. Bees also have unique nests such as cut leaves that are packed into an opening that is either natural or man made.

Some bees make nests out of resin that's covered in pebbles and made on a rock or in a bush.

Mason Bee

The largest bee in California actually burrows into the branch of a tree using it's powerful mandibles.

Valley Carpenter Bee

Black and Yellow Mud Dauber nest recycled by a Resin Bee

Then there are the wasps. They are just as fascinating as the other nesting organisms. Some nests are made of mud and some are made of paper.

Paper? Well that doesn't sound like a very good idea for a nest. Surprisingly, the hexagonal array of the nests are very strong. Some nests are sheltered and can last multiple years where others are exposed and usually last only one year due to the elements. If they do manage to survive, they can get very large!

Western Paper Wasp

There are many other organisms that build nests that I have yet to spot but here are a few more showing various shapes, materials and sizes.

Woodrat

Ant

Home is where your heart is <3

Yellowjacket

The Potter Wasp makes a mud nest in the shape of a... (wait for it), a pot! Well not the one in your kitchen but one that might found at an archeological dig.

Potter Wasp

While on your next nature walk, take a look around and see if you can spot some nests. When you do, see if you can figure out why they are in that location and look the way they do. Doing so is the first step of being a Citizen Scientist!

If you snap some photographs of it, you can upload them to Project Noah and add it to a mission dedicated to Animal Architecture so others can enjoy your spotting and even help you identify it, if needed :)

Termite mound

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Work is a ZOO!

2/7/2014

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I have finally found an employer that I am proud to work for! For two decades, I have given my all for companies that make products I don't care about and do anything but help the environment. A few years ago, I had had enough so I left the workforce to search for something I felt good about being a part of. Something that enriched my soul, not drained it.

This period of my life is when I found Project Noah and started taking photographs. I absolutely loved it! I completed naturalist training at a local reserve and also signed up for a childhood cancer fundraiser that had me hiking every weekend in preparation for a 27 mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail... in 12 hours. I felt great on both the outside and the inside!

Sadly, since this was all volunteer work, money eventually became an issue. I was unsuccessful finding a fulfilling career that accompanied a paycheck so I had to give in to an offer placing me straight back where I left. Ugh! That lasted just over a year before they decided I had to go.
Months later, it finally happened. I got a job that I'd been looking for. I now work at a zoo! Animals, conservation, education, people passionate about the same interests, a paycheck. Perfect! And how am I supposed to resist snapping photo's of the incredible organisms? Well, being the big Star Trek fan that I am, I will simply say, resistance is futile!

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Trail Tracks

The Hoppers

You've got some gall!

... and this one is just right

Work is a ZOO!

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