African Bladder Cicada vs Zanna Lanternfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Bladder Cicada Zanna Lanternfly
Scientific Name Platypleura stridula Zanna nobilis
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadidae Fulgoridae
Size 28-35 mm 50-60 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa West Africa, Central Africa
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.

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Did You Know?

The flattened thoracic extensions help the cicada blend seamlessly against tree bark when at rest.

Zanna Lanternfly

An African lanternfly with a distinctive upturned snout-like head process and brown cryptic forewings. The hindwings are boldly patterned with red or orange and black.

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Did You Know?

African lanternflies of the genus Zanna are the ecological equivalents of the Neotropical Fulgora, showing convergent evolution in head morphology.