About Flatida rosea (Melichar, 1901)
Flatida rosea, commonly called the flower-spike bug or the flatid leaf bug, is a species of planthopper in the family Flatidae. This species is found in tropical dry forests of Madagascar. Adult Flatida rosea are gregarious, and their groups orient themselves to resemble a flower spike, which gives the species its common name. Adults have wide pink wings that they hold vertically in a tent-like arrangement, completely concealing their bodies. Nymphs do not have wings, but are capable of moving around. They are covered in defensive wispy white wax, and have a plume of waxy tendrils. Like other members of this bug family, both adult and nymph Flatida rosea feed by piercing plant bark with their mouthparts and sucking sap from the phloem. Adult bugs are mobile and can jump when disturbed. Flatida rosea feeds specifically on the liana Elachyptera minimiflora. Flatida rosea nymphs produce large quantities of honeydew, which is eaten by Coquerel's coua (Coua coquerelii).
