Sandstone Squeaker Cicada vs Streamlined Backswimmer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sandstone Squeaker Cicada Streamlined Backswimmer
Scientific Name Pauropsalta annulata Notonecta irrorata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Cicadidae Notonectidae
Size 15-20 mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Australia North America
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.

Streamlined Backswimmer

A pale backswimmer with mottled wings found in still and slow-moving waters across North America. Like other backswimmers, it hangs just below the water surface film waiting for prey vibrations. It is a strong underwater swimmer.

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Did You Know?

It senses prey by detecting surface water vibrations with specialized sensory hairs on its legs, effectively turning the water surface into a detection web.