They Keep Us Guessing!

  Leafhoppers are a vast family of insects that can do unsightly damage to lawns.  These critters are the bane of folks who desire to keep perfectly trimmed and bright green grass lawns.  Me?  As long as they stay clear of the garden, they can eat all of the grass they wish.  With nigh on four acres to cut, I can use all the help I can get.  The grass grows far too fast to suit me so let a few bugs suck the sap right out of it!  

  It turns out that Leafhoppers have many friends.  Most of these (according to their names) try to imitate other critters.  I suppose to survive in this bug eat bug world, you need a gimmick. Not to mention, this is also a bird eat bug, snake eat bug, lizard eat bug, turtle eat bug...ok, you get the idea that it is a wild, dangerous world out there for tiny bugs that might be tasty.  The imitation antics of the Leafhoppers include (but are not limited to) Leaf-mimic Leafhoppers, Thorn-mimic Leafhoppers, Twig-mimic Leafhoppers and even Scorpion-mimic Leafhoppers!  They are so good at imitating plants and other critters that, most often, unless you are truly searching for them, they go unnoticed.  They could be called the "World's Greatest Impostors!"

  My hike today took me to the pier as usual.  I had seen a beautiful watersnake basking on the marsh mats earlier and was hoping she would still be there. No such luck in spotting the snake but on my return trip up the hill, a tiny Leaf-mimicker hopped out in front of me.  The tiny bug was just so cute that I had to drop to my knees to get a few photographs.  The camouflage of the bug was incredible!  It actually looked like a leaf and had it not been on a blade of grass, I might never have seen it again.  The little bug was gracious as to let me have a few "closeups".  Its bright red eye was the only "giveaway" that I was not peering at just another leaf.  Good job, Little Mimicker!