Clapping Cicada vs Arctic Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Clapping Cicada | Arctic Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amphipsalta cingulata | Aptinothrips rufus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Cicadidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 22-30 mm | 0.5-1.5 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Arctic and subarctic worldwide, Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Clapping Cicada
An endemic New Zealand cicada named for the sharp clapping sound it produces, distinct from the continuous drone of the chorus cicada. It is found in scrubland and forest edges. Males produce a rapid series of clicks that accelerate into a continuous buzz.
Did You Know?
The clapping cicada can produce clicks at a rate of over 300 per second, creating what sounds like a rapid drumroll.
Arctic Thrips
A tiny, wingless thrips that feeds on grasses in Arctic and subarctic habitats. Its brown body is barely visible without magnification. Populations reproduce parthenogenetically in the Arctic where males are absent.
Did You Know?
This thrips can reproduce without males through parthenogenesis, a useful adaptation in Arctic habitats where finding a mate would be difficult.