Login Art Photography ANIMALS, VIDEO Animals Funny Travel Illust 7 MONTHS AGO Photographer Happens Across A Bug That Looks Like A Piece Of Popcorn With Tiny Legs Julija SvidraitÄ— BoredPanda staff When you think about it, the real world is almost equally as magical as it’s portrayed in cartoons and fantasy movies. There are foxes out there who like to collect crocs, chickens who work at auto shops, doggies who help kids cross the street safely, and tiny birds that look straight out of a fairytale. 6778"-97":;<'7"'+;)7 00 1 12 2 33 "" 4 42 25 5 !"#"$"%&'()*+,"%-./ Today, let’s upgrade this list with another incredible creature. Some time ago, talented nature photographer Andreas Kay uploaded a short video to his YouTube channel capturing something that sort of looks like a walking piece of popcorn. This flatid planthopper nymph from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is covered with waxy filaments for protection Image credits: Andreas Kay This walking cloud or a piece of popcorn with tiny legs is actually an insect from Ecuador called the Oatid planthopper. “This tiny Oatid planthopper nymph from the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador is covered with waxy @laments for protection,” the photographer wrote in the description of the video. The wax coating that they secrete when moving around can turn them into little clouds with legs Image credits: Andreas Kay The Oatid planthopper is a tiny bug whose name comes from the fact that they often “hop” from one plant to another when moving around. The video by Andrea Kay captures a nymph of the insect. Flatid planthopper nymphs are light green with faint longitudinal orange stripes, though these colors are often masked by a Oocculent wax coating that they secrete when moving around, turning them into little clouds with legs. The video capturing the little cutie was shot and uploaded to YouTube by nature photographer Andreas Kay Walking Snow/ake: Planthopper … Share ! An adult Oatid planthopper has wings that are completely white or with a slight shade of pale green. Their eyes can be red, green, white, or yellow. These insects drink plant juice from stems, but don’t cause signi@cant harm to the plant itself. However, these bugs may leave a white, waxy residue on branches and leaves, making it appear a bit unattractive. Another nature photographer, David Weiller, has also captured a similar-looking Oatid planthopper nymph and posted the video on his YouTube channel. “Flatid planthopper nymph from the Amazon rainforest of Puyo, Ecuador. This tiny planthopper nymph features wax-like protrusion used for protection and maybe also to mimic a spider or bird droppings on a leaf, concealing itself from potential predators,” Weiller writes in the description of the video. Learn more Image credits: David Weiller “My name is David Weiller, I am from France and my hobby is wildlife photography and shooting videos of wildlife in various rainforests around the world,” David told us. “The Oatid planthopper nymph was a lucky @nd at the botanical garden of the town of Puyo, Ecuador. After a day of @nding and taking pictures of insects, while walking on the top of the hill under the dense canopy, from the corner of my eye, I spotted this planthopper on a leaf with its funny ‘Louis XIV wig’ or popcorn-like wax protusions, I was so amazed. I set up my camera and tripod pushed up to @lm it for a few the minutes while it was walking rapidly around the leaf. Another video capturing a similarlooking nymph was shared on YouTube by photographer David Weiller 'Walking Popcorn' Planthopper N… Share ! “Though some shots need maybe 1 day or 1 week to get, waiting in a hide for the animal to appear, this was simple shot, the challenge was that it was so small and so active as it was a hot and humid day and walking around so fast so I had to reposition the camera and tripod several times to get a good angle. I was using the full capabilities of my macro lense, at 1 to 1 magini@cation, recording in 4K using the cropped factor of my camera. A few minutes later it went to hide behind the leaf,” the photographer told us. “Sometimes, I am looking for a certain species like this one for 5 or 10 years and when I @nally @nd it, and photograph it, I feel really happy. It’s not like there is always something interesting to photograph in the rainforest so it is a bit like a treasure hunt. The most diDcult part is to @nd the animals,” David added. Here’s how people reacted to this walking piece of popcorn Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Share 128 points Julija SvidraitÄ— Follow Author, BoredPanda staff Julija SvidraitÄ— is a Bored Panda writer and photo editor who recently got her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Before Bored Panda, Julija worked as a social media specialist and a content creator at a marketing agency. She has also tried herself in a few different @elds working as an intern: from practicing graphic design at a social media marketing agency, to being an assistant at a psychiatric hospital. Besides writing, Julija is also very passionate about illustrating, reading poetry, drinking coffee, and watching crime documentaries. You can @nd her in Bored Panda ODce or reach her at julija.s@boredpanda.com. Read more » Popular on Bored Panda 50 Times Car Mechanics Took Pics Of What They Were Dealing With So Others Would Believe Them “A Year Ago, I Started Sending My GF These Photos Whenever She Asked If The Baby Was OK” Teacher Shares What Entitled Parents They Get To Deal With And The Screenshots Go Viral Start the discussion Add a comment... POST Anthony Goldstein (female) 7 months ago eating popcorn when I saw this article..... I feel sick 5 Reply Kathy Smith 7 months ago Let it sit for a few minutes, to see if any of it is going to walk away. 9 Reply Load More Replies... Ellie 7 months ago I thought it was a spider with fungus growing around it... 1 Reply Lauren Caswell Same! 0 7 months ago Reply Morgan Olson 7 months ago kinda cute... looks more like cauliOower tho 1 Reply Load More Comments Popular on Bored Panda 50 Times People Encountered Such Crappy Designs, They Just Had To Share People On This Group Are Sharing Examples Of 'Urban Hell' That Look Like A Dystopian Movie But Are Sadly Real (40 Pics) People Are Hilariously Roasting 'Target' Fashion Designers By Taking These Pics Wearing Their Dresses (30 Pics) 30 Unusual Maps People Shared On This Group That Might Change Your Perspective On Things The Finalists Of The 2020 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Have Been Announced And They Might Crack You Up 50 Rare Photos That Reveal The Unseen Side Of Things (New Pics) User Submissions 60 Funny And Cute Comics By Kesanitw I Am Homeless Because Nature And Travels Inspire Me To Create These Paintings (46 Pics) Here Are My 13 Comics That I Created To Fight My Lockdown Depression 100 New Comics By Nate Fakes Are All About Fun And Puns I Turn Wool Into Various Animal And Fantasy Character Sculptures (30 New Pics) Hey Pandas, What Is Your Weirdest Hobby? 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