Tomato Potato Psyllid vs Mound-building Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tomato Potato Psyllid | Mound-building Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bactericera cockerelli | Macrotermes gilvus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Triozidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 2.5-3 mm | 5-12 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America, Central America, New Zealand | Southeast Asia, from India to the Philippines |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Tomato Potato Psyllid
A small striped psyllid that transmits the zebra chip disease bacterium to potato crops. It also causes psyllid yellows on tomatoes through toxic saliva injection.
Did You Know?
Zebra chip disease, which it transmits, causes dark striped patterns inside fried potato chips, rendering them unsaleable.
Mound-building Termite
A fungus-growing termite widespread across Southeast Asia that builds subterranean to semi-subterranean nests with low mound structures. It is a significant pest of rubber, coconut, and oil palm plantations. Workers forage via covered galleries.
Did You Know?
In parts of Thailand and Laos, the winged reproductives of this species are fried and eaten as a popular seasonal snack during the early rainy season.