🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

Bothiocera cognita is a tiny, black and white spotted cixiid planthopper. It is about 3-5mm long, and appears to range through the southeastern US.

Cixiids are medium to small planthoppers, most of which are somewhat flattened, with clear or patterned wings. Cixiidae may have a median ocellus (located on the face, just above the clypeus, when present). As nymphs, cixiids are subterranean root-feeders (perhaps fungus) and are rarely observed. As adults, many species (particularly smaller forms) are associated with grasses or herbaceous monocots in rich, mesic or wet situations and may be found by sweeping (although Cixius is largely associated with pines) in mid to late summer or early fall.