
Credit: Getty Images, Ed Reschke
Thorn Bugs (Umbonia crassicornis) mimicking thorny twigs, males, female and young nymphs. Thorn bugs are considered Treehoppers and are true bugs (Order Hemiptera). They are impressively marked. The male (below) has a horn with a flattened tip, the female (above) has a spinelike horn. The young nymphs have different color patterns. Designed to look like sharp thorns or a plant spike its bizarre shape helps it blend in with plants and avoid predators. About 10mm long these tiny insects are found in the northern part of tropical regions of northern South America to Mexico and Florida where temperatures are consistently above zero.
(jmishlove@newthinkingallowed.com)