Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers)Planthoppers Index Alleloplasis Apollo maculiceps Colgaroides acuminata (Mango Planthopper) Desudaba maculata Desudaba psittacus Epithalamium aziola Eurybrachidae (Squathoppers) Platybrachys Rhotana gressittorum Saccharodite chrysonoe Scolypopa australis (Passionvine Hopper)

The Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata) belong to the Family Flatidae), that are also commonly known as Flatids.

It is thought that the insect pictured here from photos taken in Alice Springs, Central Australia is the adult form of Colgaroides acuminata.

Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata)
Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata), Alice Springs, NT

The eggs of this planthopper are laid on the leaves or fruit as an oval-shaped raised mass. When the nymphs hatched (in 6–7 days), they are pale green with red markings. As they mature, the nymphs become pale green all over and have a pointed head and white waxy filaments that protrude from the end of the abdomen. The nymphs are covered with a white waxy material and take 12–16 days to develop into adults. The adults are know to develop faster during the fruiting period of the fruit tree they are on, being commonly found on mango trees, although they have been sighted on citrus trees.

Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata)
Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata), Alice Springs, NT

In the adult form they measure between 10–15 mm in length. They are green or a pale whitish-green in colour and are ‘tent-like’ in shape. A tiny brown-red spot may be seen in the centre of each wing.

Common name
Mango Planthopper, Flatid Planthopper, Planthopper, Flatid.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
  • Infraorder: Fulgoromorpha
  • Superfamily: Fulgoroidea
  • Family: Flatidae
  • Subfamily: Flatinae
  • Tribe: Nephesini
  • Genus: Colgaroides
  • Species: Colgaroides acuminata

Footnote & References

  1. Field Guide – Pests, Beneficials, Diseases and Disorders of Mangoes, Northern Territory Government 2010, ISBN 978-0-7245-7200-7, https://dpir.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/227832/mango_field_guide.pdf
  2. Colgaroides acuminata, Mango Planthopper, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/d607027d-52b1-4a6e-851e-d320e3648390
  3. Leafhoppers, Treehopper and Planthoppers – Suborder Auchenorrhyncha, Brisbane Insects and Spiders Home Page, https://brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_planthoppers/index.html
  4. Entomology Australia “Invertebratology”, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/507004496955277

Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers)Planthoppers Index Alleloplasis Apollo maculiceps Colgaroides acuminata (Mango Planthopper) Desudaba maculata Desudaba psittacus Epithalamium aziola Eurybrachidae (Squathoppers) Platybrachys Rhotana gressittorum Saccharodite chrysonoe Scolypopa australis (Passionvine Hopper)

HemipteraHemiptera Index Cicadellidae Cicadoidea Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers) Heteroptera (True Bugs)

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub