Arctic Aphid vs Dusty Cicada
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Aphid | Dusty Cicada |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum | Yanga pulverea |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Aphididae | Cicadidae |
| Size | 1-3 mm | 35-50 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland | Madagascar |
| 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.
Did You Know?
This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.
Dusty Cicada
A medium to large cicada with a dusty gray-brown body and translucent wings bearing dark venation. It is one of the more commonly encountered cicadas in Madagascar.
Did You Know?
Its species name 'pulverea' means dusty, referring to the fine powdery coating on its body that helps regulate temperature.