Black Corsair vs Citrus Whitefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Corsair | Citrus Whitefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanolestes picipes | Dialeurodes citri |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Reduviidae | Aleyrodidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America | Asia (native), North America, Europe, Africa (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Corsair
A shiny black, robust assassin bug found across North America. It is nocturnal and commonly attracted to lights near buildings. It can deliver one of the most painful bites of any North American insect if handled carelessly.
Did You Know?
The bite is described as more painful than a wasp sting, causing immediate sharp pain followed by numbness that can last for days, though it is not medically dangerous.
Citrus Whitefly
A small white-winged whitefly that is a common pest of citrus trees. Adults gather on the undersides of leaves, and heavy infestations promote sooty mold growth from honeydew.
Did You Know?
It was one of the first insects to be successfully controlled by classical biological control, using the parasitoid wasp Encarsia lahorensis imported from Asia.