Perhaps among the most exotic and strange forms that we can find in the world are insects. Sometimes we find among their rows picturesque forms of life, so diverse that there is even an insect that resembles a walking popcorn. To date we have discovered around 900 thousand types of insects, although there are certainly some others that we do not know yet.
Their variety is so wide that they represent 80% of all known animal species in the world, so they surely keep the most exotic specimens among their ranks. Big, small, of ineffable colors, those that go unnoticed due to their size, but there are also those that seem to come from another world or from… the kitchen?
Image: David Weiller
Biologist and photographer Andreas Kay dedicated his life to documenting the fascinating world of insects. Caterpillars, beetles, arachnids, Kay captured all kinds of creatures, but among all of them he found one that earned his surprise and affection; the plant-hopper nymph that to human eyes would look more like a delicately walking popcorn.
Image: Andreas Kay
The planthopper nymph walks with the grace of a popcorn
The delicate fluffy white nymph lives in the Amazon rainforest and its name comes from its usual behavior of jumping gracefully from one plant to another. And although tiny, planthopper nymphs occupy a special place in the region’s ecosystem, secreting protective fats on the leaves to protect them from solar radiation.
Image: Andreas Kay
Its cloudy or popcorn appearance makes this insect one of the strangest but most beautiful that has been captured on video. In reality, it obtains this peculiar visual composition through waxy filaments that cover it for protection from potential predators.
Kay managed to capture the picturesque walk of the planthopper nymph that resembles a popcorn with small legs that runs along the biologist’s finger. Be amazed yourself and watch the video captured by Andreas.