Red-Banded Leafhopper vs Mountain Shieldbug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red-Banded Leafhopper Mountain Shieldbug
Scientific Name Graphocephala coccinea Canthophorus impressus
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadellidae Cydnidae
Size 7-9 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Underground Tundra & Arctic
Diet Sap Feeders Root Feeders
Regions North America Scandinavia, Scotland, northern Russia, alpine Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red-Banded Leafhopper

A brilliantly colored leafhopper with alternating red and blue-green stripes. It is one of the most visually striking leafhoppers in North America.

💡

Did You Know?

Its candy-striped red and blue pattern makes it look more like a tiny piece of jewelry than an insect.

Mountain Shieldbug

A small, dark brown to black burrowing shieldbug found in Arctic and alpine habitats. It has a broadly oval body with a prominent scutellum. Adults live at the base of plants and in soil crevices.

💡

Did You Know?

This shieldbug emits a strong defensive odor when disturbed, which is particularly pungent in cold Arctic air.