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was digging through a well rotted oak log and found several white egg-like objects measuring around 5-7 mm across, which were loosely attached to the surrounding rotting wood and had a firm rubbery texture. I broke a couple open and they turned out to be hollow and contained these weird little planthopper nymphs. They appeared to be in different stages of development- one of them (photos 3 and 6) was larger, had black and white markings and larger wingbuds while the other (slides 1 and 2) was smaller and pale with shorter wingbuds, implying that they probably develop inside the balls

There was no obvious sign of plant roots or any living plant life growing on the log (the section of log was suspended above the ground as well) so my personal theory is that they’re fungus feeders, like nymphs of some achilid and derbid planthoppers.

Perhaps the balls are made of fungal tissue (note in photos 4 and 5 that some of them have what appears to be mycelial threads clinging to or even merged with the balls) and are a sort of “fungal gall” that surrounds and nourishes the nymphs? Since they apparently develop in the balls and there doesn’t seem to be a way for them to enter and exit I don’t see how they would feed unless their nourishment came from the ball itself.

Alternately i suppose it could be of plant origin (though I find that unlikely since didn’t see any plants or roots near them) or made from the wax secretion many planthoppers produce, but that doesn’t explain how they feed, unless they only use the balls as a shelter for molting or something? (though once again that feels unlikely to me)

I collected some intact balls and some of the rotting wood they were in for further examination and to see if I can rear out the adults.

Cigarra-folha (Cicadidae: Cicadettinae: Hemidictyini: Hemidictya frondosa Burmeister, 1835) 🙏🏼

(https://instagram.com/cigarrasdobrasil?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= @cigarrasdobrasil https://www.facebook.com/cigarrasdobrasil?mibextid=ZbWKwL https://www.facebook.com/groups/455872422240228/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

https://www.facebook.com/cigarras.brasil.3?mibextid=ZbWKwL Grato! 🙏🏼)

(Petrópolis-RJ, Brasil. 16/12/2022 @mauricioputre)