Creosote Bush Grasshopper Bug vs Pennsylvania Ambush Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Creosote Bush Grasshopper Bug Pennsylvania Ambush Bug
Scientific Name Bootettix argentatus Phymata pennsylvanica
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Miridae Reduviidae
Size 4-6 mm 8-12 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions North America Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Creosote Bush Grasshopper Bug

A tiny plant bug exclusively associated with creosote bush in North American deserts. Its silvery-green coloring blends perfectly with creosote foliage.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few insects that can tolerate the highly toxic resins of the creosote bush.

Pennsylvania Ambush Bug

A small chunky yellow and brown bug with thickened raptorial forelegs that hides in flower heads to ambush pollinators. It can capture prey many times its own size.

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Did You Know?

It can capture and kill bumble bees and butterflies that are more than ten times its own weight.