Moss Bug vs Pennsylvania Ambush Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Moss Bug | Pennsylvania Ambush Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Peloridium hammoniorum | Phymata pennsylvanica |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Peloridiidae | Reduviidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | South America, Oceania | Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Least Concern |
Moss Bug
A tiny, flattened, living fossil found only in moist moss and liverwort beds in the Southern Hemisphere. The family dates back to the Jurassic period and retains many primitive features.
Did You Know?
Moss bugs belong to one of the most ancient surviving families of true bugs, essentially unchanged since the time of the dinosaurs over 150 million years ago.
Pennsylvania Ambush Bug
A small chunky yellow and brown bug with thickened raptorial forelegs that hides in flower heads to ambush pollinators. It can capture prey many times its own size.
Did You Know?
It can capture and kill bumble bees and butterflies that are more than ten times its own weight.