Treehopper

insects · plants · weird creatures

Thorn-like disguise. Treehoppers look so much like thorns on branches that predators just skip right past them. Their bumpy, pointed bodies are basically nature's best costume.

Found everywhere but frozen places. These quirky bugs live on every continent except Antarctica, from rainforests to your backyard. But only five species live in Europe, which makes them pretty rare there.

Thousands of kinds exist. Scientists know about 3,200 different species of treehoppers spread across over 400 different groups. That's a lot of weird bugs hiding in trees.

Short little lives. Most treehoppers only live for a few months before their life ends. That's why you might see different ones on the same plant at different times of year.

Close relatives of cicadas. Treehoppers are in the same family as cicadas and leafhoppers, all sharing a common plant-sucking lifestyle. They use straw-like mouths to drink juice right out of plants.