Australian Scorpionfly vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Scorpionfly | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Harpobittacus australis | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Mecoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Bittacidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 18-22 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Scorpionfly
An Australian hangingfly that suspends itself from vegetation and catches prey with its raptorial hind legs. Males present captured prey to females as nuptial gifts.
Did You Know?
Female Australian scorpionflies assess nuptial gifts by tasting the prey — if it is nutritionally poor, they reject the male and fly away.
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.