Arctic Psyllid vs Arctic Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Psyllid | Arctic Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacopsylla brunneipennis | Aedes nigripes |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Psyllidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic Canada | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Psyllid
A tiny, winged sap-sucking insect that feeds on willow in Arctic and subarctic regions. Adults are brownish with transparent wings and can jump powerfully using enlarged hind legs. Nymphs produce waxy secretions.
Did You Know?
Psyllids are sometimes called jumping plant lice because they can leap more than 50 times their own body length to escape danger.
Arctic Mosquito
A large, dark-bodied mosquito common across the Arctic tundra. Females emerge in enormous swarms after snowmelt to blood-feed on caribou and other mammals. Adults have dark scales and pale-banded legs.
Did You Know?
Arctic mosquito swarms can be so dense they have been documented driving caribou to stampede across the tundra.