Derbid Planthopper vs Railroad Worm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Derbid Planthopper | Railroad Worm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anotia bonnetii | Phrixothrix hirtus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Derbidae | Phengodidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 30-65 mm (larvae) |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Eastern United States, Caribbean, Central America | South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Derbid Planthopper
A delicate planthopper with elongated, paddle-shaped wings held flat over the body. It is pale yellowish-green and often found resting on palm fronds and broad-leaved plants.
Did You Know?
Unlike most planthoppers, derbid nymphs are mycophagous, feeding on fungal hyphae in leaf litter and rotting wood before switching to plant sap as adults.
Railroad Worm
A beetle larva with 11 pairs of green-glowing lateral organs and a red-glowing headlamp — the only land animal that produces two different colors of bioluminescence simultaneously.
Did You Know?
The railroad worm is the only terrestrial animal that glows in two colors at once — green along its sides like railway car windows and red on its head like a locomotive.