🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

Fulgora laternaria, also known by the name of alligator bug, peanut-headed lantern fly, peanut headed bug, lantern fly, jequitiranaboia, machaca, chicharra-machacuy, and cocoposa, Is a large species of neotropical plant-hopper.

The insect has a very distinctive appendage on the head Which resembles a peanut in shape and is lined up with markings that resemble a grin. The appendage also has two prominent false eyes suggesting that it may allow the insect to mimic a reptile. F. Laternaria generally spends a majority of it’s time beautifully camouflage on a tree bark during the day.

The appendage on the forehead likely resembles a reptile specifically a caiman, acting as a form of mimicry. Another related suggestion is that the elongate structures of lanternflies distract predators away from the true head, something that is also aided by the presence of large eye spots on the edges of the peanut-headed lanternfly’s wings, predators usually strike the head-fist.

In order to attract a mate, the insect bops its head against the bark of a tree, creating vibrations which are perceived by any potential mates.