African Bladder Cicada vs Ocean Strider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Bladder Cicada | Ocean Strider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platypleura stridula | Halobates micans |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cicadidae | Gerridae |
| Size | 28-35 mm | 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Bladder Cicada
A sub-Saharan African cicada with flattened lateral extensions on its abdomen. It is commonly heard calling from trees in woodland savannas.
Did You Know?
The flattened thoracic extensions help the cicada blend seamlessly against tree bark when at rest.
Ocean Strider
A remarkable open-ocean water strider that spends its entire life on the surface of tropical seas. It is one of the very few insects adapted to a fully marine existence. It lays eggs on floating debris including feathers and seaweed.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only insects to have colonized the open ocean and can be found thousands of kilometers from the nearest land, surviving storms and wave action.