Sorry but it is not a planthopper, it is smaller and more fizzy and pure white. I'll try to get a photo.
Itty Bitty Moth by: James
Didn't see one today, but I'm re-tired so I'll try tomorrow. Maybe it's a nymph, we'll see. It just about floats in the air where it wants and has direction. It's neat!!
Micromoths by: Moni
James
Please try to get a photo...and we will see what we can figure out. There are many tiny moths called micromoths.
The Peterson Field Guide series has a moth book by Charles Covell...which shows several of the micro moths.
There is also another source which might or might not help - Illustrated Checklist of the Lepidoptera of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Vol. 3C: Micro-Moths and Geometroids
By Ed Knudson & Charles Bordelon. 2008.
The micromoths are not studied by very many folks.
Tiny white moth by: James
I live in northern Illinois and have seen these itty bitty white moths, I think they are moths, every year for ten years. At first I though it was ash flying around but noticed that it had a flight plan. I have never seen a photo of these little guys. I only see one at a time. I've seen some that look similar, but not the same. I will try to catch one and photograph it, but it is soooo small I'm not sure I can get a good focus on it.
Planthopper nymph by: Moni
Kat
Your fuzzy little guy is a planthopper nymph. There is no common name for your planthopper known as Acanalonia servillei. The nymph looks similar to others in the same genus but the coloration helps to separate them. Usually nymphal ID is not possible as many look the same, but in this case I think this is the one you have. More angles are always helpful for positive Id when trying to identify from photos.
It is found in eastern US. The nymphs and adults feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Not sure why you only see it on your orchid. They can be found in fields, wooded areas, gardens, and in most areas of herbaceous plants from summer into fall.
Here are photos of the adult and other nymphal stages - http://bugguide.net/node/view/57439
And you are right...they are not considered a pest.
