Table Mountain Ghost Frog Assassin Bug vs Lesser Water Boatman

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Table Mountain Ghost Frog Assassin Bug Lesser Water Boatman
Scientific Name Reduvius tabulensis Sigara striata
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Reduviidae Corixidae
Size 1.5-2 cm 6-8 mm
Habitat Heathland Ponds & Lakes
Diet Herbivores Detritivores
Regions South Africa Europe
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.

💡

Did You Know?

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

Lesser Water Boatman

A small water boatman with fine dark striations across its forewings. It is among the most abundant aquatic insects in European standing waters. It feeds by scraping algae and organic material from submerged surfaces.

💡

Did You Know?

In Mexico, a related species' eggs are harvested in such quantities from lake surfaces that they are dried and sold as a traditional food called 'ahuautle,' once known as Mexican caviar.