科學圖說

小時候黑不一定黑(Colorful Adulthood)

臺灣球瓢蠟蟬成蟲體長約5公釐，體色主要由橙紅及水青二色組成。全身色彩與花紋十分鮮艷絢麗，很像小時候吃的柑仔糖，頗具療癒效果。但是臺灣球瓢蠟蟬小時候的體長只有約1-2公釐，體色大都為黑色，看起來就像是一顆黑芝麻。隨著成長，黑色素才會漸漸褪去，慢慢出現橙紅色，最後成為人見人愛的柑仔糖。

The adult issid planthopper (Hemisphaerius formosus) is about 5mm in length. Its reddish orange and blue-green stripes are very vivid, resembling the hard and round candies popular in childhood. However, nymphs are only 1-2mm in length and black in color, resembling sesame seeds. As the nymph develops, melanin is gradually lost, revealing reddish orange until it finally becomes a colorful adult, a lovely hard candy ball.