Apple Sucker vs Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Apple Sucker | Broad-Shouldered Water Strider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacopsylla mali | Microvelia americana |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Psyllidae | Veliidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Central Asia, East Asia | North America, Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Apple Sucker
A small psyllid pest of apple trees with greenish-brown coloring that changes seasonally. Nymphs produce copious honeydew and waxy secretions on developing buds and flowers.
Did You Know?
Heavy infestations can cause complete failure of fruit set, as nymphs feeding inside flower clusters kill the developing blossoms before they can be pollinated.
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
A tiny water strider relative that walks on the surface of ponds and puddles. It is widespread across the Americas on still freshwater.
Did You Know?
At barely 2 mm long, it is so small that it can walk on water trapped in a single hoofprint.