For some time now, I had been wondering what the ants are doing congregating on a branch of
Melaleuca leucadendra which I recently bought from a nursery. Close inspection seemed to reveal only ants. The plant is doing nothing since I pruned and repotted it, so I was wondering about insect pests (plenty of its leaves have been eaten by something).
Anyway, today I probed into the groove between the papery bark and the primary branch where the ants were so excited. This is what came out:
CommonJassid.jpg
CommonJassidBelly.jpg
About 2/3 the length of the ants attending it, and a bit fatter in the body. A bit of research tells me it is a nymph in the Eurymela family, otherwise known as a Jassid, or leafhopper. They specialise on young eucalypts (and obviously Mels). Unfortunately, I can't blame my Mel's dormancy on one little nymph.
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