Gum Tree Hopper: Eurymeloides species

Location: Bunbury, Western Australia.

Season: Early spring 2016

Class: Insecta 

Order: Homoptera 

Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha 

Infraorder: Cicadomorpha 

Superfamily: Membracoidea 

Family: Cicadellidae 

Genus: Eurymeloides

Eurymelidae punctata

Eurymelidae is a genus of Gum Treehoppers which is found all over Australia. They mainly feed on eucalyptus trees. Both adults and nymphs have sucking moth parts that penetrate the tree and suck the sap. The excess sugar that the treehopper doesn't need is excreted which attracts the ants. In exchange for the sugar secretion, the ants provide protection for the nymphs and adults. Ants deter predators that could potentially attack the treehoppers. This symbiotic relationship is mutually beneficial to both ants and the treehoppers. The adults and the nymphs stay in groups, don't move far away from each other and hardly hop. They walk away to the nearest group and huddle up when spooked.

In the above photos, adult treehopper of Eurameloides sp is predominantly black with red ocelli. The tented wings have white and yellow patterned lines running through them. The nymphs at different stages have stark red on black pattern. This morphological feature is seen in Eurymelidae punctata according to this source.

Reference: http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/leafhop/eurymelinae/eurymel.htm