Giant leafhopper

Ledromorpha planirostris

Ledromorpha planirostris is a leaf hopper found near the eastern coast of Australia.
Flat head Leafhopper Almost looks like a dragonfly nymph or a trilobite. Found under bark of a eucalyptus tree( not identified) Resembles tree bark in coloration and walks very slowly when disturbed.Checked several websites to identify but didn't get far. Closest resemblance found is Bark roach in family Blaberidae, but not sure at all.Eventually identified as a Flat-head Leafhopper. April 2017,Eamw leafhoppers,Flat-head Leafhopper,Leafhoppers,NR 1,Willunga SA

Appearance

Up to 28mm long.
Very broadly flattened head and body with a long ovipositor developing by maturity.
No male has ever been found for this species.
Giant leafhopper nymph (Ledromorpha planirostris) A weird flat bug at 16mm long this is the nymph of a very large leafhopper. About 4mm thick at most. Always pale, sometimes with faint pink to red markings. Delicate setae around margin. On the bark of Eucalyptus melliodora at night time. These are the largest leafhopper in the world. The adult reaches 28mm long. The adult female develops a long ovipositor. When very young they are almost translucent. A male of this species has never been found and it is therefore suspected they may be parthenogenetic. A possible younger one here http://www.jungledragon.com/image/38583/ledromorpha_nymph_ledromorpha_planirostris.html Australia,Geotagged,Giant leafhopper,Ledromorpha planirostris,Ledromorpha-planirostris,Summer

Naming

Synonyms:
Fulgora planirostris Donovan, 1805
Ledra gladiata Blanchard, 1840
Ledra caudata Walker, 1851
Ledra valida Walker, 1851
Ledromorpha vaginata Stål, 1864

Distribution

Found near the eastern coast of Australia including Tasmania

Status

Least concern

Habitat

Moist eucalyptus forests.

Reproduction

Only females have been found so likely parthenogenetic.

Food

Eucalyptus sap.

Defense

Camouflage. The nymphal patterns and colours vary within the range of eucalyptus barks.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_planthoppers/LargestLeafhopper.htm
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Ledromorpha+planirostris#
http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/leafhop/tartessinae/ledromo.htm
https://sites.google.com/site/insectsoftasmaniahemiptera/suborder-auchenorrhyncha/cicadellidae-leafhoppers/genus-ledromorpha
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderHemiptera
FamilyCicadellidae
GenusLedromorpha
SpeciesLedromorpha planirostris
Photographed in
Australia