Parent Bug vs Foam Grasshopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Parent Bug | Foam Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Elasmucha grisea | Dictyophorus spumans |
| Order | Hemiptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Acanthosomatidae | Pyrgomorphidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 50-80 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | Southern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Parent Bug
A birch-feeding shieldbug remarkable for its extended maternal care behavior. Females stand guard over their egg clusters and young nymphs for weeks, shielding them with their body.
Did You Know?
Mothers physically shield their eggs and nymphs from parasitoid wasps by spreading their body like an umbrella over them.
Foam Grasshopper
A large black and red grasshopper that produces a foul-smelling toxic foam when disturbed. It is one of Africa's most recognizable grasshoppers.
Did You Know?
The toxic foam it produces from its thoracic glands contains cardiac glycosides concentrated from the milkweeds it eats.