Sage Leafhopper vs Clapping Cicada

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sage Leafhopper Clapping Cicada
Scientific Name Eupteryx melissae Amphipsalta cingulata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadellidae Cicadidae
Size 3-3.5 mm 22-30 mm
Habitat Gardens Forests
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sage Leafhopper

A small, attractively marked leafhopper found on sage and other labiates in gardens. Feeding causes pale stippling on leaves. Originally Mediterranean but expanding northward.

💡

Did You Know?

Has expanded its range significantly northward in Europe, likely benefiting from climate change and herb gardening.

Clapping Cicada

An endemic New Zealand cicada named for the sharp clapping sound it produces, distinct from the continuous drone of the chorus cicada. It is found in scrubland and forest edges. Males produce a rapid series of clicks that accelerate into a continuous buzz.

💡

Did You Know?

The clapping cicada can produce clicks at a rate of over 300 per second, creating what sounds like a rapid drumroll.