![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fcontent%2Fbroad-headed-sharpshooter-oncometopia-orbona%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F001%2F157%2F200504-COVID-Spring-May-2020-008%2Flarge.1593987156.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fcontent%2Fbroad-headed-sharpshooter-oncometopia-orbona%2F" title="Broad-headed sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona)"%3EBroad-headed sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona)%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ELooks+like+an+ordinary+grub%2C+doesn%27t+it.+It+is+a+type+of+leaf+hopper.+The+name+%E2%80%9Csharpshooter%E2%80%9D+comes+from+the+fact+that+they+can+expel+excess+watery+waste+a+fair+distance.+Fortunately+none+tried+to+%E2%80%9Cshoot%E2%80%9D+me+as+I+got+close+to+them.+Some+of+the+longest+leapers+in+the+animal+kingdom%2C+they+can+also+shoot+their+bodies+an+amazing+distance%2C+like+over+40+times+its+body+length.+If+you+find+one+with+a+white+oval+on+the+wing%2C+it+has+a+patch+of+special+protein+particles+called+brochosomes+that+the+female+manufactures+in+her+excretory+system.+She+uses+it+to+seal+off+the+eggs+after+she+inserts+them+into+a+stem.+Thanks+to+friend+Paula+LaPoint+for+the+ID+and+description.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Broad-headed sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona)
Looks like an ordinary grub, doesn't it. It is a type of leaf hopper. The name “sharpshooter” comes from the fact that they can expel excess watery waste a fair distance. Fortunately none tried to “shoot” me as I got close to them. Some of the longest leapers in the animal kingdom, they can also shoot their bodies an amazing distance, like over 40 times its body length. If you find one with a white oval on the wing, it has a patch of special protein particles called brochosomes that the female manufactures in her excretory system. She uses it to seal off the eggs after she inserts them into a stem. Thanks to friend Paula LaPoint for the ID and description.