South American Spittlebug vs Thorn Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Spittlebug | Thorn Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Deois flavopicta | Umbonia crassicornis |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cercopidae | Membracidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Underground |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela | Central America, South America, 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.
Thorn Bug
Extraordinary treehopper with a thorn-shaped pronotum that makes it look exactly like a plant thorn when sitting on a branch. Mothers guard eggs and nymphs aggressively.
Did You Know?
Treehoppers have evolved the most bizarre body shapes of any insect — their enlarged pronotum can mimic thorns, helicopter blades, antlers, and even ant-like forms.