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)

Scolypopa australis is a species of insect in the family Ricaniidae family (a member of the Fulgoroidea planthoppers) that is native to Australia. Commonly known as Passionvine Hopper, they are found on many plant species, including passionfruit, kiwifruit and lantana. Like all planthoppers, they suck on the sap of plants, leaving behind a honeydew secretion which is gathered by bees.

The nymph are about 5 mm long, the adults between 5-6 mm long. As pictured here, the nymhs are wingless and often referred to as “fluffy bums”. To the untrained eyes, the adult look like moths.

Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wandella NSW © Deb Taylor
Passionvine Hopper (Scolypopa australis), Wandella NSW © Deb Taylor

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
  • Infraorder: Fulgoromorpha
  • Superfamily: Fulgoroidea
  • Family: Ricaniidae
  • Genus: Scolypopa
  • Species: Scolypopa australis

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Deb Taylor
  2. Scolypopa australis (Walker, 1851), Passionvine Hopper, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/16dbd950-3215-4f1b-be8b-dc562bce7983

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