Alpine Snow Fly vs Bhaskara's Leaf Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Snow Fly Bhaskara's Leaf Insect
Scientific Name Chionea lutescens Pulchriphyllium bhaskarai
Order Diptera Phasmatodea
Family Limoniidae Phylliidae
Size 3-5 mm body length 6-8 cm
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Scavengers Herbivores
Regions Alps, Central Europe Indonesia (Java)
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Alpine Snow Fly

A yellowish wingless crane fly found on snow in alpine regions. It breeds in soil beneath the snowpack where larvae feed on decaying matter.

💡

Did You Know?

Adults emerge in midwinter and mate directly on the snow surface.

Bhaskara's Leaf Insect

A leaf insect endemic to Java, Indonesia, recently separated from closely related species. It has distinctly rounded abdominal lobes.

💡

Did You Know?

It was only recognized as a distinct species in 2021, previously being lumped with mainland Asian leaf insects.