Is this bug in a Halloween costume??

If any of you have handed out candy for trick-or-treat in the last 10 years, you have likely bore witness to a countless number of small children dressed up like Elsa from Disney’s movie Frozen (my niece has a fully-accessorized Elsa costume, and “Let it Go” was the first song I ever heard her sing). Therefore, when I initially met this bug on the farm earlier this summer, I immediately thought, “It’s Elsa the Snow Queen!” Indeed, this little guy is DECKED OUT in her Elsa attire, even surrounding herself with snow!!

So, who is she?? This is a planthopper nymph! She creates a waxy, white filament that helps her to camoflauge and deter predators. Eventually she will grow into an adult planthopper:

There are over 12,000 different species of planthoppers, and they come with a wide variety of costumes! Although planthoppers feed on plant juices, sucking out their nutrients, our native planthoppers typically don’t consume enough to cause any significant damage to the plant (there are some invasive species of planthoppers, though, that have made it to the U.S.—-watch out for the spotted lanternfly planthopper in some areas!).

So, while us humans are enjoying our costumes and Halloween treats this weekend, the bug world will be out there in the night, having their own masquerade ball, full of disguises…

Happy Halloween!