Rhododendron Leafhopper vs Verrucarum Sandfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Rhododendron Leafhopper | Verrucarum Sandfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Graphocephala fennahi | Lutzomyia verrucarum |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cicadellidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 8-9 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | North America, invasive in Europe | Peru, Andean valleys of South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Rhododendron Leafhopper
A brightly colored red and blue-green leafhopper that feeds on rhododendrons. It vectors a fungus that causes rhododendron bud blast disease.
Did You Know?
Its vivid candy-stripe coloration makes it one of the most recognizable leafhoppers in gardens.
Verrucarum Sandfly
A small sandfly found in the inter-Andean valleys of Peru, serving as the vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever and verruga peruana). It is active at dusk and night at altitudes between 800 and 3,000 meters.
Did You Know?
Carrion's disease killed thousands of workers during construction of the Lima-La Oroya railway in the 1870s.