<p>Various post-dropping behaviours have evolved in insects to mitigate risks such as desiccation, starvation, and drowning. Some insects exhibit upright landing, and its mechanisms have been clarified in previous studies. However, the adaptive significance of upright landing has rarely been tested experimentally. Previous studies have suggested that upright landing may facilitate escape from predators at the landing site. To test this prediction, I investigated the post-dropping behaviour of planthopper <i>Laodelphax striatellus</i> (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) nymphs on the water surface. Because aquatic predators such as water striders and spiders are important predators of planthoppers, the ability to land safely on the water surface is crucial for their survival. Live nymphs landed upright more frequently than dead nymphs, indicating that they actively control their body orientation to achieve upright landing on the water surface. Moreover, nymphs that landed upright were preyed upon less frequently by water striders than those that landed upside-down. Nymphs that landed upright escaped attacks by jumping. These results indicate that upright landing on the water surface by <i>L</i>. <i>striatellus</i> nymphs plays a crucial role in escaping aquatic predators.</p>