Scolypopa australis
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Scolypopa australis, commonly known as the passionvine hopper, is a species of insect in the Ricaniidae family of planthoppers (Fulgoroidea) that is native to Australia and was introduced to New Zealand. Despite its name, they are found not only on passion vines, but on many plant species, including kiwifruit and the lantana. Brown with partly transparent wings, they are 5–6 mm long as adults and 5 mm as nymphs. As an adult they look somewhat like a moth to the untrained eye, and walk "like a ballerina". The nymphs are wingless and are informally known as fluffy bums. When sufficiently aroused they will hop off their plant "with a 'snap'". Like all planthoppers they suck plant sap. This leaves a honeydew secretion which bees gather.
They were first recorded in New Zealand in 1878, where they are among over 40 species of planthopper, mostly native, but including the introduced Siphanta acuta (green planthoppers), Achilus flammeus (red fingernail bugs) and Anzora unicolor (grey planthoppers), all from Australia. They may be a vector of the 'sudden decline' disease caused by Phytoplasma australiense that has affected the native cabbage tree (Cordyline australis), and... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Passionvine Hopper sighting in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 35 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 102nd most-seen of the 789 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December to February
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Passionvine Hopper in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to November, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Passionvine Hopper sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
5th of 7
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Passionvine Hopper sightings, Blue Mountains National Park ranks 5th at about 10%. The best odds are in Abel Tasman National Park (New Zealand, about 20%), Egmont National Park (New Zealand, about 20%) and Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Passionvine Hopper that you can see in Blue Mountains National Park (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are Green Grocer (about 40%), Metallic Shield Bug (about 20%) and Razor Grinder (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Passionvine Hopper is recorded against all the insects logged in Blue Mountains National Park (35 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
