Crazy Beautiful: Gallery of Treehopper Helmet Designs

Scary Beautiful Bugs

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

Watch out, Lady Gaga, you've got some serious competition in the crazy headgear department. Treehoppers, which are found in the Membracidae family, grow fascinating "helmets" that can mimic the environment in which they live — or even look like completely different insects.

Hey, Four-Eyes!

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

There are more than 2,000 species of treehoppers (Heteroptera, Membracidae), with various fascinating "helmets." Recent findings suggest that the insects developed this headgear by reactivating and repurposing their wing-making machinery. The helmets of the above Bocydium species look like four eyes and a long spike.

Colorful Marvels

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

The researchers at the Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille-Luminy in France studied the genes involved in the treehoppers' development of both wings and helmets and found similarities. Although the helmets are created using the treehopper's wing-making machinery, they aren't used for flight.

Odd Oeda

Oeda treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

The Oeda species of treehoppers has a yellowing lace-like design on its helmet, which snugly fits right above it gossamer wings.

Black & White "Hat"

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

Treehoppers, including this Membracis foliata (Linnaeus) with cow-like spots, are from the Homoptera order of insects.

The Fake Ant

treehopper helmet

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

Treehoppers can usually be identified by the spectacular humps on their backs. The Cyphonia clavata species even dons headgear that looks like an ant in a defensive position.

Strange Shapes

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

The Cladonota species of treehoppers has a horseshoe-shaped helmet that helps it to blend in among branches and dried leaves.

Seashell Helmet

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

This specimen of Gigantorhabdus enderleini has a helmet that flawlessly blends in with its wings. The pattern on its headgear resembles that of tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris) seashells. 

Camouflage Masters

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

"We don't know the function of the helmet," Benjamin Prud'homme of the Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille-Luminy told LiveScience. "To human eyes, they look like they mimic the environment in which the animal lives."

Serpentine Insect

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

This treehopper's helmet makes it appear to have a massive, leathery tail.

Ready For the Beach

treehopper

(Image credit: Nicolas Gompel)

This treehopper's unique helmet covers almost all of its body and looks like a piece of white coral.

Remy Melina was a staff writer for Live Science from 2010 to 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Hofstra University where she graduated with honors.