Fairyfly Wasp vs Red-Banded Leafhopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fairyfly Wasp Red-Banded Leafhopper
Scientific Name Dicopomorpha echmepterygis Graphocephala coccinea
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Mymaridae Cicadellidae
Size 0.139-0.240 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Parasitoids Sap Feeders
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Fairyfly Wasp

The smallest known insect in the world at just 0.139 mm in length. Males are blind, wingless, and smaller than some single-celled organisms.

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Did You Know?

Males of this species are smaller than a paramecium — they are blind and wingless, existing solely to mate with sisters before they even leave the host egg.

Red-Banded Leafhopper

A brilliantly colored leafhopper with alternating red and blue-green stripes. It is one of the most visually striking leafhoppers in North America.

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Did You Know?

Its candy-striped red and blue pattern makes it look more like a tiny piece of jewelry than an insect.