Brochosomes that coat the integument of leafhoppers always
have spherical shape, but their size and structure vary. Some species
coat their body with a mix of two different types of integumental brochosomes:
Pictures below show the most
common type of brochosomes. Perhaps 99% of all leafhoppers produce such
particles. In these brochosomes, an internal cavity is surrounded by a
structure resembling a honeycomb. The bottom of each penta- or hexagonal
cell of this honeycomb has a hole leading into the internal space. The
diameter of such brochosomes is 0.2--0.6 µm.
Brochosomes often (but not always) display a geometry
of a truncate dodecahedron with 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal faces. Similar
geometry is found in a soccerball and a C60 buckminsterfullerene
molecule.
