A black planthopper, or Ricaniid Planthopper (Ricania speculum), rests in a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on May 4, 2026. The species belongs to the family Ricaniidae and is found in low-elevation mountains and prefers dark environments in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It has been accidentally introduced to European countries like northern Italy. The species is considered a major polyphagous invasive agricultural pest for several crops in tropical and subtropical areas, including apples, coffee plants, oil palms, and Citrus species. These insects feed on sap that they suck from the leaves of host plants. Ricania speculum has a single generation per year, and the eggs overwinter in the bark of branches, waiting for spring hatching.
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