Alfalfa Hopper Nymph

It has a very small body which require me to be close enough to get the pictures. I used smartphone with external macro device to take this little thorny insect that, when I came, was perching on the wild grass. I fancy finding such an interesting tiny creature that has a unique pattern of its wings. The nymphs are usually found in the lower parts of plants, where they feed on the stems using their piercing-sucking mouthparts. This feeding activity can significantly cause damage to crops such as alfalfa, soybean, and peanuts, leading to reduced plant quantity and quality. The damage is often seen as a series of small holes girdling stems and petioles, which can lead to leaf yellowing, purple stem discoloration, and even stem death. Nevertheless, they play a crucial role in the life cycle of the species, as they eventually mature into adults that continue to feed on host plants and lay eggs.

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Camera	Smartphone
Category	Insect
Lens	Lensbong Macro/Modified Macro lens