Arctic Thrips vs Malagasy Mottled Cicada

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Thrips Malagasy Mottled Cicada
Scientific Name Aptinothrips rufus Yanga argyrea
Order Thysanoptera Hemiptera
Family Thripidae Cicadidae
Size 0.5-1.5 mm 35-45 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Arctic and subarctic worldwide, Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Thrips

A tiny, wingless thrips that feeds on grasses in Arctic and subarctic habitats. Its brown body is barely visible without magnification. Populations reproduce parthenogenetically in the Arctic where males are absent.

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Did You Know?

This thrips can reproduce without males through parthenogenesis, a useful adaptation in Arctic habitats where finding a mate would be difficult.

Malagasy Mottled Cicada

A silvery-gray cicada with mottled wing patterns that provide excellent camouflage against tree bark. Males produce a distinctive metallic buzzing song.

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Did You Know?

Its species name 'argyrea' means silvery, referring to the fine silvery scales that cover its body and wings.