brochosome

thumb|right|The most common brochosomes thumb|right|A female :en:Glassy-winged sharpshooter|Homalodisca vitripennis carries on her wings masses of specialized brochosomes (the white spot) to be used during egg-laying. thumb|right|A model of a typical brochosome from leafhopper integument (on the right dissected to show the interior).

Brochosomes are intricately structured microscopic granules secreted by leafhoppers (the family Cicadellidae of the insect order Hemiptera) and typically found on their body surface and, more rarely, eggs. Brochosomes were first described in 1952 with the aid of an electron microscope. Brochosomes are hydrophobic and help keep the insect cuticle clean. These particles have also been found in samples of air and can easily contaminate foreign objects, which explains erroneous reports of brochosomes on other insects.