Clapping Cicada vs Treehopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Clapping Cicada Treehopper
Scientific Name Amphipsalta cingulata Cladonota benitezi
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadidae Membracidae
Size 22-30 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Forests Mountains
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Oceania (New Zealand) South America
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

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.

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Did You Know?

The clapping cicada can produce clicks at a rate of over 300 per second, creating what sounds like a rapid drumroll.

Treehopper

A bizarre treehopper with an elaborate pronotal helmet covered in ball-like projections.

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Did You Know?

Its pronotal sculpture may mimic a parasitic fungus to deter predators.