Klamath Weed Beetle vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Klamath Weed Beetle | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysolina quadrigemina | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe (native), introduced to North America, Australia | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Klamath Weed Beetle
A dark bronze to coppery-brown beetle with a convex, heavily punctured body. It was introduced to control the invasive Klamath weed (St. John's wort) and became a classic biocontrol success story.
Did You Know?
Its introduction to California in the 1940s reduced Klamath weed infestations by over 99%, saving millions of acres of rangeland.
Arctic Aphid
A small, pale green aphid that is one of the most northerly herbivorous insects on Earth. It feeds on the sap of Dryas octopetala and other Arctic plants. Populations are entirely parthenogenetic in the High Arctic.
Did You Know?
This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.