Euzyginella theari

I was ecoconnected by my daughter on 9th October 2019. My species is Euzyginella theari. It seems that is was discovered in 2013 by Christopher Dietrich from Malaise trap and canopy fogging samples from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is a species of leafhopper.

I have recently read a book called ‘The Fly Trap’ which explores the life of Rene Malaise (who invented the trap used to discover this species) written by a self-proclaimed member of ‘hoverfly high society’ Fredrik Sjöberg in 2004. This story explores the lives and motivations of some people who are engaged with insects. I won’t spoil it for you.

My fun fact about Euzyginella theari, at this stage, is that leafhoppers produce brocosomes. These are soccerball shaped structures that protect the surface of the insects after moulting and in some species of leafhoppers the eggs. This is exciting and feels like a new discovery to me. I am particularly interested to think if there might be a commercial application for this method of surface protection.

Do I feel compelled to go to South America and find it? Not right away. I would be excited if someone there were to record it on QuestaGame. If I do visit I would appreciate paying a QuestaGuide being available to help me find it. Do I understand everything about this species? No, but more will come in time. I know its name and that it existed in 2013. This is more than I knew before. It meant nothing to me before. I now feel a connection to dynamics of the place where it lives. This makes me richer.

Duncan

Get ecoconnected to have your own new awareness.

A poem from Euzyginella theiri to a tree

D Farquhar - January 2021

Thank you photosynthesising tree, For making food for little me.

In sucking sap it’s not sugar that I need, More Nitrogen to grow that makes me feed.

Sugar passes through and drips, To feed moulds and ants in little nips.

You may be tree you may be iris, Bugs into plants can vector virus.

These are some impacts you must bear, That I might hop and breed and stare -

with instinct, wonder and a little fear, In case a predator is near.

Perhaps in time my many babies. Will be spider food if they miss the maybe’s.

Maybe he won’t even see me, or maybe if I hop she’ll miss me.

For to have some more of me, One of us must escape to see

a chance for a mighty hop, and a new tree is a place to pop

some baby nymphs all safe and sound, high in the forest and off the ground.