Table Mountain Ghost Frog Assassin Bug vs Citrus Whitefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Table Mountain Ghost Frog Assassin Bug Citrus Whitefly
Scientific Name Reduvius tabulensis Dialeurodes citri
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Reduviidae Aleyrodidae
Size 1.5-2 cm 1-2 mm
Habitat Heathland Orchards
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions South Africa Asia (native), North America, Europe, Africa (introduced)
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Table Mountain Ghost Frog Assassin Bug

A rare assassin bug found only on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. It preys on small invertebrates among the fynbos vegetation.

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Did You Know?

Table Mountain's summit is home to numerous species found nowhere else due to its long isolation.

Citrus Whitefly

A small white-winged whitefly that is a common pest of citrus trees. Adults gather on the undersides of leaves, and heavy infestations promote sooty mold growth from honeydew.

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Did You Know?

It was one of the first insects to be successfully controlled by classical biological control, using the parasitoid wasp Encarsia lahorensis imported from Asia.