Bridgey's Midgey: this species of lace bug has a distinctive dome-like structure on its back, and it was discovered just 5 years ago
This species has only been documented at the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Australia, where it was discovered by a photographer/tour guide named Bridgette Gower back in 2020. The strange-looking insect is also known as "Bridgey's midgey," and it's recognized as an undescribed species of lace bug from the genus Oecharis.
The distinctive "cyst" on the insect's back is actually part of the pronotum (the plate that covers the dorsal side of its body) and it's formed by two separate structures that meet along the midline of the thorax; these two structures part whenever the insect needs to use its wings, which are folded beneath the dome.
The entire pronotum is covered in dark, lacy patterns and translucent cells that make the "cyst" seem even more exaggerated.
The adults of this species measure roughly 3mm long. Entomologists have also documented and collected the nymphs, which have flat, shiny bodies that are completely black.
Lace bugs (family Tingidae) are tiny insects that feed on plant fluids, and their common name is derived from the fact that they often have delicate and extremely intricate structures on their wings and pronotum.
Sources & More Info:
iNaturalist: Genus Oecharis
Aussie Macro Photos: Finding Bridgey's Midgey
Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology: Lace Bug Genera of the World, Part II (PDF)
University of Maine: Lace Bugs
