Cactus Dodger Cicada vs Ant-Mimicking Treehopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cactus Dodger Cicada Ant-Mimicking Treehopper
Scientific Name Cacama valvata Cyphonia clavata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadidae Membracidae
Size 25-35 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Predators
Regions North America Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cactus Dodger Cicada

A robust desert cicada that feeds on native desert shrubs in the American Southwest. Males produce a distinctive buzzing call in the hottest hours.

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Did You Know?

Its dark coloring helps it warm up quickly in the cool desert mornings so it can begin calling earlier.

Ant-Mimicking Treehopper

A treehopper with a pronotal projection shaped like an ant sitting on its back. The ant mimic is thought to deter predators from attacking.

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Did You Know?

The "ant" on its back is actually a hollow extension of its pronotum viewed from certain angles.