Knife-snouted Lanternfly

About the Knife-snouted Lanternfly

Named for its unusually narrow, straight-edged snout, distinct from the more upturned or bulbous head projections seen in most other Pyrops species — the closest thing this family has to a knife blade.

Recorded from Sabah's lowland rainforest, where like all Pyrops it perches head-down on tree trunks feeding on sap, using the elongated snout for reasons still debated among entomologists — possibly signalling, possibly balance during feeding.

Not assessed for conservation status; a Bornean endemic with a comparatively small number of confirmed records.