Issus coleoptratus
| Issus coleoptratus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Auchenorrhyncha |
| Family: | Issidae |
| Genus: | Issus |
| Species: | I. coleoptratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Issus coleoptratus (Fabricius, 1781) | |
Issus coleoptratus is a common insect found in the western Palaearctic. It is a species of planthopper that is 5.5–7.0 millimetres (0.22–0.28 in) long. The coloration of this insect can vary from light brown and olive to nearly black. There is only one generation per year. It is unable to fly, unlike most members of its family. It feeds on the phloem of different trees, such as lime trees, oaks, maples, birches, elms and hazels.
Like all planthoppers, the nymphs of this insect have a small, gear-like structure on the base of each of their hind legs.[1] These gears have teeth that intermesh, keeping the legs synchronized when the insect jumps, preventing it from spiraling. This is the first planthopper species in which the function of these gears was described,[1] though their existence had been known for decades.[2] The insects shed this gear before moulting into adults.[3][4]
References
- 1 2 Burrows, Malcolm; Sutton, Gregory (2013-09-13), "Interacting gears synchronize propulsive leg movements in a jumping insect", Science, 341 (6151): 1254–1256, doi:10.1126/science.1240284
- ↑ K. Sander. 1957. Bau und Funktion des Sprungapparates von Pyrilla perpusilla WALKER (Homoptera - Fulgoridae). Zool. Jb. Jena (Anat.) 75, 383–388
- ↑ Lee, Jane. "Insects Use Gears in Hind Legs to Jump". National Geographic. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
- ↑ Robertson, Adi (September 12, 2013). "The first-ever naturally occurring gears are found on an insect's legs". The Verge. Retrieved September 14, 2013.