South American Spittlebug vs Water Treader
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Spittlebug | Water Treader |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Deois flavopicta | Mesovelia mulsanti |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Cercopidae | Mesoveliidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela | Americas, from United States to South 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.
Water Treader
A tiny, bright green semi-aquatic bug that walks on the surface of still waters among floating vegetation. It is widespread across the Americas and is often found on lily pads and duckweed. Both winged and wingless forms exist.
Did You Know?
It hunts by detecting the tiny ripples made by struggling prey items on the water surface, running across lily pads and open water to reach them.