Fulgora laternaria
Fulgora laternaria | |
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Fulgora laternaria | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
Infraorder: | Fulgoromorpha |
Family: | Fulgoridae |
Genus: | Fulgora |
Species: | F. laternaria
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Binomial name | |
Fulgora laternaria | |
Synonyms | |
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Fulgora laternaria (often misspelled "lanternaria") is a species of
Description
Fulgora laternaria can reach a length of 85–90 millimetres (3.3–3.5 in), with a wingspan up to 100–150 millimetres (3.9–5.9 in). This insect has a protuberance at its head as long as 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in), looking like a peanut and showing false eyes to resemble that of a lizard or a serpent. The insect was originally - and mistakenly - believed to be luminescent. When attacked, it protects itself by displaying large, yellow,
It will knock its head on a hollow tree to create vibrations for mates. It will lay its eggs on the Hymenaea courbaril or quapinol tree, and coat them in a waxy substance for protection.[2]
Several very similar species in the genus occur from Central to South America, and many museum and commercial specimens identified as laternaria are actually other species.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This species inhabits
History
In the 1970s, a Colombian reporter on a trip to Putumayo Department wrote a chronicle about this insect, and related the folk tale that if it bites you, it would cause death unless the affected person practiced a sexual act within 24 hours. Although this species is not venomous, the publication of this text in a national magazine gave notoriety to both the author and the claim.[3]
Gallery
References
- JSTOR 3565277.
- ^ a b c Collins, Adeah (2017). "Fulgora laternaria (Alligator Bug" (PDF). UWI.
- ^ "Si lo pica la machaca tiene que hacer el amor.. o muere". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- Wesmael C. (1837) Phosphorescence du Fulgore porte-lanterne, L'institut, Journal Universel des Sciences et des Sociétés Savantes en France et à l'Etranger. 1re Section. Sciences mathématiques, physiques et naturelles. Paris, 5: 259.
- Catalogue of Life
- NCBI
- Carrol L. Henderson Butterflies, Moths, and Other Invertebrates of Costa Rica: A Field Guide
External links
- Insecta Culture Archived 2009-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
- Especies de Costa Rica
- Art and Nature Archived 2018-09-05 at the Wayback Machine
- Acguanacaste
- Carnivoraforum Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine