Orange Assassin Bug vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Orange Assassin Bug | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platymeris rhadamanthus | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Reduviidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 28-35 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | East Africa | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Orange Assassin Bug
A large black assassin bug with striking orange-red markings on the connexivum and legs. Found in East African forests where it hunts other arthropods. Like other Platymeris species, it can spit defensive saliva.
Did You Know?
In captivity, it is one of the most commonly kept pet insects, valued for its dramatic coloring and fascinating predatory behavior.
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.