Keller's insect models: The Brazilian treehopper

The Brazilian treehopper (Bocydium globulare) is only about six millimetres long and feeds on the sap of plants. The sap is extracted from the plant tissue with the help of a piercing and sucking beak that acts like a straw. All treehoppers have a high rounded shield over their backs with a rear-facing appendix. Even more striking is the neck shield (pronotum) that sometimes carries bizarrely shaped appendages. Their function remains as yet unclear. It is thought that they may deter predators or serve as camouflage. Treehoppers have the ability of darting off really fast when danger looms. Many species of treehoppers are found in Tropical America, whereas Europe has only three species, one of which has been introduced from America.
Brazilian treehopper (Bocydium globulare), magnified by 100, 1953