The bizarre bug that looks like a TROLL: Insect with iridescent tuft of 'hair' discovered in South American rainforest

The 7mm-wide, six-legged bug is thought to be an insect called a nymph



Its elongated golden body is covered in orange dots and stripes

Feelers made of wax protrude from the bug's rear to ward off predators



It was one of sixty new species found in the South American rainforest

It may look like something straight from a toy store but this bizarre creature is a new species of insect found living in the South American rainforest.



The 7mm-long creature is golden and its elongated body is covered in orange dots and stripes.



It has hair-like feelers sticking out of its rear which resemble the fuzzy hair of the colourful Troll Dolls, a popular toy in the 1990s.



The 7mm-wide insect, pictured, was discovered after researchers from the University of Harvard trekked for three weeks to explore the untouched rainforest of southeast Suriname. The unnamed creature is covered in orange dots and stripes. Its feelers are made of wax that protrude from its rear end

Researchers believe the bug is an immature insect called a nymph, possibly fitting into one of four nymph families: Dictyopharidae, Nogodinidae, Lophopidae, and Tropiduchidae.

WHAT IS A NYMPH?

A nymph is an immature insect.

In insects that undergo a gradual metamorphosis, the stage of the life cycle that hatches from the egg is called the nymph.

These insects do not pupate like a butterfly.

Often, the nymph looks like a smaller, wingless version of the adult. The nymph may molt several times to reach adulthood.

Insects that undergo simple or gradual metamorphosis, and have a nymph stage, include grasshoppers and crickets, cockroaches, termites and dragonflies.

Teams from the University of Harvard and museums around the world trekked for three weeks to explore the untouched rainforest of southeast Suriname.

The new nymph was one of 60 new species recorded during the trek.

Princeton's Dr Trond Larsen, who is a tropical ecologist and conservation biologist, spent days studying the creature.

Dr Larsen said: 'I have spent hours searching drawers of nymphs to compare it to other species, but have only been able to narrow it down from 16 to four.'

In insects that undergo a gradual metamorphosis, the stage of the life cycle that hatches from the egg is called the nymph. These insects do not pupate like a butterfly.

The iridescent 'tail' that grows from the bottom of some nymphs is in fact made of wax. It is produced by specialised glands in the abdomen.

The wax serves a variety of purposes - in some species it grows into a fan shape and can slow descent while falling. It can also act as a distraction for predators.

The bug is believed to be an insect called a nymph. It has hair-like feelers made of wax that stick out of its rear and which resemble the fuzzy hair of the colourful Troll Dolls, pictured - a popular toy in the 1990s. The wax can grow into a fan shape and can slow descent while falling. It can also act as a distraction for predators

'I couldn't match it with anything we have discovered before. I can't get it into a family with certainty,' continued Dr Larsen.



WHAT IS THE INSECT'S 'HAIR' FOR?

T he iridescent 'tail' that grows from the bottom of some nymphs is in fact made of wax.

It is produced by specialised glands in the abdomen.

The wax serves a variety of purposes - in some species it grows into a fan shape and can slow descent while falling.

It can also act as a distraction for predators.

Source: Animalworld.com

'It could be any of these four we know about - but it is very difficult to tell.'

The international team of field biologists studied the mountainous region of southeastern Suriname - a wilderness area that has been relatively unexplored.



It is among the most remote and unexplored tracts of rainforest left on Earth.

Suriname is located in the Guiana Shield, a vast area of South America that contains more than 25 per cent of the world's rainforest.



The country has a relatively low population and still maintains 95 per cent of its forest cover, but faces pressure from mining, road and dam projects.

The scientists collected data on water quality and a total of 1,378 species, including plants, ants, beetles, katydids, fishes, amphibians, birds and mammals.

Dr. Leeanne Alonso, the expedition's leader, said: 'I have conducted expeditions all over the world, but never have I seen such beautiful, pristine forests so untouched by humans.

'Southern Suriname is one of the last places on earth where there is a large expanse of pristine tropical forest.