Putnam's Cicada vs Spined Soldier Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Putnam's Cicada | Spined Soldier Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platypedia putnami | Podisus maculiventris |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cicadidae | Pentatomidae |
| Size | 18-25 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Gardens |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Throughout North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Putnam's Cicada
A small, dark cicada found in arid pinyon-juniper woodlands of the western US. It produces quiet clicks rather than the loud buzzing of typical cicadas.
Did You Know?
Instead of singing, males attract females by tapping their wings together to produce soft clicking sounds.
Spined Soldier Bug
A beneficial predatory stink bug with prominent shoulder spines and a mottled brown body. It feeds on pest caterpillars and beetle larvae in gardens and agricultural fields.
Did You Know?
It is commercially reared and sold as a biological control agent for managing pest caterpillars in agriculture.