Chinch Bug vs Pine Spittlebug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chinch Bug | Pine Spittlebug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Blissus leucopterus | Aphrophora cribrata |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Blissidae | Aphrophoridae |
| Size | 3-4 mm | 9-12 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Farmland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Chinch Bug
A tiny black and white bug that is one of the most destructive pests of cereal crops and lawn grasses in North America. Adults have distinctive white wings folded flat over the back. Large populations can kill entire swathes of turf grass.
Did You Know?
In the late 1800s, massive outbreaks destroyed so much wheat in the Great Plains that farmers built tar-filled trenches across fields to trap migrating chinch bug armies.
Pine Spittlebug
A large spittlebug that feeds on pine and other conifers, producing masses of froth on branches. Heavy infestations can cause branch dieback in young pine plantations.
Did You Know?
A single nymph can produce several milliliters of spittle per hour by pumping air into excreted xylem fluid.