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Lantern Fly
Conservation status: Least Concern
Lantern Flies aren't flies at all, but a kind of leaf hopper. Their common name was given to them because it was once (incorrectly) believed that their long snouts were luminous at night.
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Scientific Classification
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Order:
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Hemiptera
Fulgoridae
Rentinus
dilatatus
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Lantern Flies are mainly found in tropical areas and fifteen species have been recorded in Australia. This particular species has been found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
Rentinus dilatatus has two subspecies, which can be told apart by their size - R. d. dilatatus reaches 23.5mm in total length while R. d. perkinsi reaches 27mm. We are not sure which subspecies was found in Girraween (pictured).
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