Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket vs Graceful Winter Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket Graceful Winter Stonefly
Scientific Name Ellipes minuta Capnia gracilaria
Order Orthoptera Plecoptera
Family Tridactylidae Capniidae
Size 3-5 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Central America, South America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket

One of the smallest orthopterans in the world, barely visible to the naked eye. It lives in moist sand and mud along tropical waterways.

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Did You Know?

At just 3 mm long, it is smaller than many ants and is easily overlooked even by entomologists specifically searching for it.

Graceful Winter Stonefly

A minute stonefly of cold North American headwater streams emerging in winter. Females are often short-winged or wingless.

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Did You Know?

Females sacrifice flight ability for greater egg production by reducing or eliminating their wings.