Oak Treehopper vs Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Oak Treehopper | Broad-Shouldered Water Strider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platycotis vittata | Microvelia americana |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Membracidae | Veliidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 1.5-2.5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America | North America, Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Oak Treehopper
A colorful treehopper that feeds on oak twigs in eastern North America. Females exhibit maternal care by straddling their egg masses to protect them from parasitoids.
Did You Know?
Color morphs range from turquoise to red-orange depending on the population.
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
A tiny water strider relative that walks on the surface of ponds and puddles. It is widespread across the Americas on still freshwater.
Did You Know?
At barely 2 mm long, it is so small that it can walk on water trapped in a single hoofprint.