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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Hoppers (Auchenorrhyncha) » Planthoppers (Fulgoromorpha) » Fulgoroidea » Flatid Planthoppers (Flatidae) » Flatinae » Nephesini » Metcalfa » Citrus Flatid Planthopper (Metcalfa pruinosa)
Photo#185006
Metcalfa pruinosa
Copyright © 2008 Graham Montgomery

Metcalfa pruinosa
Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
May 25, 2007
At the porchlight. Why are its eyes red? It is something that only happens at night? I saw one this morning with the normal yellow eyes.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Graham Montgomery on 25 May, 2008 - 3:58pm

I
finally figured it out. I did an online search(probably what I should have done at first) and found this.

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/palms/palm_cixiid.htm

It says that cixiids change eye color as light intensity increases and decreases. I bet that is what is happening here.
… Graham Montgomery, 26 May, 2008 - 10:50am login or register to post comments

Perhaps...
it's like red-eye in humans: the direction and intensity of the artificial light causes an unusual amount of reflection off the inside surfaces of the eyes.

Another (less likely) possibility: Mantids have eyes that change at night to improve their night vision- perhaps this moth does, as well.

Either that or it's been possessed by some demonic spirit and is waiting for a chance to feed on your doomed soul...
… Chuck Entz, 25 May, 2008 - 5:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Both of those could easily be it.

I was reminded of blood-sucking vampires straight out of a horror movie as I looked at this guy.

Thanks again!
… Graham Montgomery, 25 May, 2008 - 9:21pm login or register to post comments

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