Sandstone Squeaker Cicada vs Buff-tip

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sandstone Squeaker Cicada Buff-tip
Scientific Name Pauropsalta annulata Phalera bucephala
Order Hemiptera Lepidoptera
Family Cicadidae Notodontidae
Size 15-20 mm 55-68 mm wingspan
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Australia Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sandstone Squeaker Cicada

A small Australian cicada that produces a high-pitched squeaking call. It is commonly found on sandstone rock faces and nearby vegetation.

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Did You Know?

Its tiny size and quiet call make it one of the most easily overlooked cicadas in Australia.

Buff-tip

A moth that mimics a broken birch twig with remarkable precision when at rest. Its silvery-grey wings end in a buff-coloured patch resembling exposed wood.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars feed communally in large groups and can completely defoliate small trees.