Giant Bornean Lanternfly vs Cottony Cushion Scale
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Bornean Lanternfly | Cottony Cushion Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pyrops whiteheadi | Icerya purchasi |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Fulgoridae | Monophlebidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm | 5-8 mm including egg sac |
| Habitat | Forests | Orchards |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Originally Australia, now cosmopolitan |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Giant Bornean Lanternfly
A spectacular lanternfly from Borneo with an elongated horn-like head process and vivid coloring. The function of the snout remains debated — possibly mimicry or balance.
Did You Know?
Despite being called lanternflies, these insects do not actually produce light — the myth dates to the 1600s when scientist Maria Sibylla Merian claimed they glowed.
Cottony Cushion Scale
A scale insect with a distinctive white fluted egg sac that devastated California's citrus industry in the 1880s. Its control by vedalia beetles was the first major success of biological pest control.
Did You Know?
The introduction of vedalia ladybirds to control it in 1889 saved the California citrus industry from collapse.