South American Spittlebug vs Small-headed Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Spittlebug Small-headed Fly
Scientific Name Deois flavopicta Ogcodes pallidipennis
Order Hemiptera Diptera
Family Cercopidae Acroceridae
Size 8-12 mm 4-8 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Sap Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

South American Spittlebug

A dark brown and yellow spittlebug that is a major pest of tropical pasture grasses in Brazil. Nymphs produce protective frothy spittle masses on grass stems.

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Did You Know?

Outbreaks can damage millions of hectares of Brazilian pasture, causing estimated annual losses of over $2 billion.

Small-headed Fly

A round-bodied fly with a tiny head whose larva parasitizes spiders from the inside.

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Did You Know?

The first-instar larva attaches to a passing spider and burrows inside to feed.