Flea Beetle vs Buff-tip

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flea Beetle Buff-tip
Scientific Name Altica oleracea Phalera bucephala
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Notodontidae
Size 3-5 mm 55-68 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, North America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Flea Beetle

Tiny jumping beetles with enlarged hind femora for leaping. Named for their flea-like jumping ability. Many species are metallic blue, green, or bronze.

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Did You Know?

Flea beetles can jump 100 times their body length in a single leap — they use an elastic protein pad in their hind legs that stores and releases energy like a catapult.

Buff-tip

A moth that mimics a broken birch twig with remarkable precision when at rest. Its silvery-grey wings end in a buff-coloured patch resembling exposed wood.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars feed communally in large groups and can completely defoliate small trees.