Before his death on July 27, 1971, at age 27, Morrison released the 50-minute film HWY: An American Pastoral, which followed a recurring theme in his prose of a murderous hitchhiker.

Source: https://americansongwriter.com/5-jim-morrison-poems-that-became-songs-by-the-doors-after-his-death/

“I was describing a hitchhiker with a pointed finger, painted smile and somebody said to me, ‘I loved that idea of a finger-painted smile – it’s like kids finger paint’.

Source: https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/paul-simon-i-treasured-the-times-that-seamus-heaney-and-i-were-together-we-enjoyed-each-others-company/a1905907006.html

Phipps said that the planthoppers are native to Asia and make an excellent hitchhiker.

Source: https://www.missourinet.com/2023/06/29/spotted-lanternfly-seen-killing-native-foliage-in-missouri/