Masked Devil Cicada vs Streamlined Backswimmer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Masked Devil Cicada Streamlined Backswimmer
Scientific Name Cyclochila virens Notonecta irrorata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadidae Notonectidae
Size 35-42 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Woodlands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Sap Feeders Omnivores
Regions Eastern Australia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Masked Devil Cicada

A large Australian cicada with vivid green coloring and a loud, piercing call. It is closely related to the Green Grocer and can be found in similar habitats.

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Did You Know?

Australian children have created an elaborate folklore around cicada shell collecting, with different species assigned varying levels of rarity and value.

Streamlined Backswimmer

A pale backswimmer with mottled wings found in still and slow-moving waters across North America. Like other backswimmers, it hangs just below the water surface film waiting for prey vibrations. It is a strong underwater swimmer.

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Did You Know?

It senses prey by detecting surface water vibrations with specialized sensory hairs on its legs, effectively turning the water surface into a detection web.