Arctic Aphid vs Black-and-Red Froghopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Aphid Black-and-Red Froghopper
Scientific Name Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum Cercopis arcuata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Aphididae Cercopidae
Size 1-3 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Aphid

A small, pale green aphid that is one of the most northerly herbivorous insects on Earth. It feeds on the sap of Dryas octopetala and other Arctic plants. Populations are entirely parthenogenetic in the High Arctic.

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Did You Know?

This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.

Black-and-Red Froghopper

A southern European froghopper similar to C. vulnerata but with differently shaped red markings. It is common in Mediterranean grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Its bright coloration warns predators of its distasteful body chemistry, a defense rare among xylem-feeders.