Citrus Spittlebug vs Water Boatman

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Citrus Spittlebug Water Boatman
Scientific Name Clastoptera undulata Corixa punctata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Clastopteridae Corixidae
Size 4-6 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Orchards Ponds & Lakes
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions Southeastern United States, Mexico Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Citrus Spittlebug

A small oval-shaped spittlebug with dark brown and cream banding. Nymphs produce frothy spittle masses on pecan, citrus, and other trees throughout the southeastern United States.

💡

Did You Know?

Spittle masses produced by the nymphs can be so abundant on pecan trees that they rain down on people walking beneath, giving the impression of a light drizzle.

Water Boatman

A small, oval aquatic bug with oar-like hind legs fringed with swimming hairs. Unlike most aquatic bugs, water boatmen are primarily herbivores that scrape algae from underwater surfaces.

💡

Did You Know?

Male water boatmen produce the loudest sound relative to body size of any animal on Earth, singing at 99 decibels by rubbing a ridge on their genitalia against their abdomen.