Desert Clastoptera vs Dusty Cicada

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Desert Clastoptera Dusty Cicada
Scientific Name Clastoptera arizonana Yanga pulverea
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Clastopteridae Cicadidae
Size 4-6 mm 35-50 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions North America Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Desert Clastoptera

A tiny spittlebug found on desert shrubs in the American Southwest. Nymphs surround themselves with a frothy mass for moisture and protection.

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Did You Know?

The frothy spittle covering its nymphs provides insulation from extreme desert temperatures.

Dusty Cicada

A medium to large cicada with a dusty gray-brown body and translucent wings bearing dark venation. It is one of the more commonly encountered cicadas in Madagascar.

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Did You Know?

Its species name 'pulverea' means dusty, referring to the fine powdery coating on its body that helps regulate temperature.