A strikingly colored sharpshooter leafhopper, encountered in the cloud forests of Mindo, Ecuador. The name “sharpshooter” actually derives from their highly specialized—and rather dramatic—feeding habits. Both nymphs and adults use needle-like mouthparts to consume massive volumes of diluted liquid plant sap. Because this fluid is incredibly low in nutrient density, they must feed almost continuously, filtering immense quantities through their digestive tract. To efficiently extract sustenance, the excess water and carbohydrates are forcibly squirted away from the body in a rapid, fine stream of droplets, thus earning them their sharpshooter moniker. I came across this sharpshooter, likely belonging to the genus Catagonalia, during my very first photography excursion in Ecuador. Still shooting with my first macrophotography gear, this beautiful specimen marked the very first leafhopper I ever captured on film.