Delphacidae

Species Information
Body length 2-6 mm. Delphacids are separated from other hoppers by the prominent spur on the tibia of the hindleg and the thumblike antennae located beneath the lower margin of the eyes. Adults may be either long-winged (macropterous, or dispersal forms, with fully developed flying wings) or short-winged (brachypterous, adult wings not functional for flying) within a single population of a species. Sometimes brachypterous individuals are hard to tell apart from nymphs.

Most species feed on grasses.

Classification

Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Family:

Insecta (Insects)
Hemiptera (True Bugs)
Auchenorrhyncha (True Hoppers)
Delphacidae (Planthoppers)

Photographs
These images show nymph stages. Note within the first four images the nymph has a parasite, a Dryinid wasp larva which is part outside and inside of the planthopper. It feeds on the host, eventually breaking out for pupation and killing it in the process.

Delphacidae sp nymph
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire
Delphacidae sp nymph
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire
Delphacidae sp nymph
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire
Delphacidae sp nymph
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire
July 2017. Local pond, South Staffordshire

All photographs copyright © Peter Hillman
Please see the ‘about‘ page for details on use of images