Buffalo Treehopper vs Large Tortoiseshell
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Buffalo Treehopper | Large Tortoiseshell |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stictocephala bisonia | Nymphalis polychloros |
| Order | Hemiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Membracidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 6-8 mm | 54-65 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Orchards |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America, Europe | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) |
Buffalo Treehopper
A small, bright green treehopper with a distinctive triangular pronotum that makes it resemble a miniature American bison when viewed from above. It is a minor pest of fruit trees.
Did You Know?
The buffalo treehopper communicates with others by sending substrate-borne vibrations through plant stems, essentially using the plant itself as a telephone line.
Large Tortoiseshell
A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now effectively extinct there. It hibernates as an adult in tree hollows.
Did You Know?
Its decline in Britain is thought to be linked to Dutch elm disease destroying its primary food plant.