Palo Verde Root Borer Cicada vs Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Palo Verde Root Borer Cicada Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Scientific Name Okanagana hesperia Malacosoma americanum
Order Hemiptera Lepidoptera
Family Cicadidae Lasiocampidae
Size 20-28 mm 25–38 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Palo Verde Root Borer Cicada

A medium-sized dark cicada found in sagebrush steppe and desert grasslands. Males call from low shrubs during the heat of summer afternoons.

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Did You Know?

Its nymphs may spend up to five years underground feeding on root fluids before emerging as adults.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

A common moth whose caterpillars build conspicuous silk tents in the forks of cherry and apple trees. Colonies cooperate to build and expand their communal shelter.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars lay silk trail pheromones to guide nestmates to the best feeding sites on the tree.