#ricaniidae

this is a ricaniid planthopper nymph creeping furtively away from me while hiding behind its wax plume tail.

as an adult, it will lose the wax fluff and hold its broad wings flat when at rest, like these ricaniids I saw nearby. I’m not sure if the nymph belongs to any of these species, though.

Ricanula sp., Ricania sp., Pochazia sinuata

Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), family Ricaniidae, found in Australia

The nymphs are also called fluffybums.

Ricaniid planthoppers native to Australia, where they're a minor pest, but introduced to New Zealand, where they're a much bigger problem.

Sapsuckers on many plants, and producers of honeydew. That can be a major problem, on top of the damage they do to crops, and the plant diseases they spread, if the plant is Tutu (Coriaria arborea). Honey derived from that honeydew can contain dangerous levels of the poison tutin, and has been the cause of multiple honey poisonings in NZ over the years.