Flower bug closeup 2/2

A closeup of a mysterious creature found in Madagascar: the flower bug. Its entire body is shaped like a flower and in a group, you will easily mistake the group as a flowering plant.

comments (7)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Zoomed out shot, which shows their true camouflage as a group:

Note that the zoomed out shot is actually a different location and spotting. Posted 12 years ago, modified 12 years ago

Ludo Sak

Lion

Amazing, wow, never knew they even existed! Do they live in Europe region too? Posted 12 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I believe this insect is endemic to Madagascar, and possibly some other continental African countries, but I'm not 100% sure since almost no information is available about it online. Posted 12 years ago

Mark Ridgway

Lion

What a nice and weird little animal. Flowers are plant efforts to attract animals and then these try to look like flowers? Maybe it's just another 'human' mis-perspective. It would be cool to see them around flowers that looked similar... or even see any flowers that resemble them within their endemic range. Fascinating anyway - thanks. Posted 9 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  You raise a good point, Mark, indeed I think it is a human perspective to assume they try to mimic a flower, yet we named it that way. I've seen these bugs at least in 4 locations (will soon share new and better shots) yet never found a real flower that looks close to it. I also don't know what motive there can be in looking like a flower. Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Mark Ridgway
    
    Lion
    
    I'm envious of your sightings in Madagascar. Spectacular. Maybe if I'm rich one day.. :) Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Thank you Mark, it is our favorite wildlife destination: 80% endemics, and all can be explored on foot, safely. Luckily you live in an awesome "habitat" yourself, but should you ever be able to visit Madagascar, I recommend it above anything else. Posted 9 years ago

The Madagascan Flatid Leaf-Bug

''Phromnia rosea'', the flower-spike bug or the flatid leaf bug, is a species of planthopper in the family Flatidae. It is found in dry, tropical forests in Madagascar, and the adult insects are gregarious, the groups orienting themselves in such a way that they resemble a flower spike.

Info 14 0

Similar species: True Bugs

Species identified by Ferdy Christant