Puesta de Cercopoideo

Puesta de Cercopoideo
Cargado originalmente por Macrodomo

Pentax K20D - 1/125 - f/16.0 - 100 mm - ISO: 200 - Flash; Fired

Reino: Animalia
Filo: Arthropoda
Clase: Insecta
Orden: Hemiptera
Suborden: Auchenorrhyncha
Infraorden: Cicadomorpha
Superfamilia: Cercopoidea

Familias
* Aphrophoridae
* Cercopidae
* Clastopteridae
* Epipygidae
* Machaerotidae

Los representantes de la superfamilia son conocidos fundamentalmente por su estado de ninfa, pues, en su metamorfosis, producen una cubierta de mucílago, semajante en consistencia a la saliva, sobre diversas especies de plantas. Una familia, Machaerotidae, no sólo segrega dicha cubierta, sino que le da consistencia mediante sales de carbonato de calcio, hasta definir una estructura tubular. Dicha cubierta esponjosa posee varias utilidades: esconde a la ninfa, defendiéndola de depredadores y parásitos; la aísla de variaciones térmicas bruscas, permitendo una mejor termorregulación; y evita su desecación.
Algunas especies son consideradas plagas debido a que afectan a las plantas sobre las que generan el capullo; son, por ello, fitopatógenas.

These families are best known for the nymph stage, which produces a cover of frothed-up plant sap resembling spit; the nymphs are therefore commonly known as spittlebugs, or spit bugs, and their froth as cuckoo spit, frog spit or snake spit. The final family in the group, Machaerotidae, is known as the tube spittlebugs because the nymphs live in calcareous tubes, rather than producing froth as in the other families.
Nymphal form of spittlebug encased in foam for protection and moisture
The froth serves a number of purposes. It hides the nymph from the view of predators and parasites, it insulates against heat and cold, thus providing thermal control and also moisture control. Without the froth the bug would quickly dry up. The nymphs pierce plants and suck sap causing damage, and much of the excess filtered fluids go into the production of the froth, which has an acrid taste, deterring predators. A few species are serious agricultural pests.
(Form wikipedia)