Pounding rice cakes with a planthopper - Pounding rice cakes with a planthopper

... In Japan, their emergence has been considered a part of the biological calendar since ancient times, and these swarms are said to be a sign of rain, and are familiarly called "mosquito mochitsuki" or "katsubo no kometsuki." There is even a proverb that says, "The mochitsuki of planthoppers brings rain." Many of the species that can be seen swarming in woodlands and under eaves from early spring belong to the family Acanthaceae, and many different species are known.

*Some of the terminology used in reference to "planthopper rice pounding" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…　日本では古くからその発生を生物暦の一つとしているところもあり，これらの群飛は雨の兆しといわれ，〈カのもちつき〉〈カツボのこめつき〉などと呼ばれ親しまれてきた。〈ウンカのもちつき雨を呼ぶ〉のことわざもある。早春から林間や軒下などに群飛が見られる種類はガガンボダマシ科に多く，いろいろの種類が知られる。…

※「ウンカのもちつき」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報