South American Spittlebug vs Tawny-edged Skipper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Spittlebug | Tawny-edged Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Deois flavopicta | Polites themistocles |
| Order | Hemiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Cercopidae | Hesperiidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 20-27 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela | Eastern and Central North America |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Outbreaks can damage millions of hectares of Brazilian pasture, causing estimated annual losses of over $2 billion.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A small brown skipper with a warm orange-tawny leading edge on the forewing. It is one of the most common grass skippers in eastern North America but is easily overlooked.
Did You Know?
It is named after the ancient Athenian general Themistocles, following a tradition of naming skippers after classical figures.