Two-lined Spittlebug vs White Morpho

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Two-lined Spittlebug White Morpho
Scientific Name Prosapia bicincta Morpho polyphemus
Order Hemiptera Lepidoptera
Family Cercopidae Nymphalidae
Size 8-10 mm 100-130 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Eastern and Southern North America, Central America Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Two-lined Spittlebug

A black spittlebug with two vivid red-orange transverse bands across its wings, common in turf grasses across the southeastern United States. Large populations can cause significant damage to lawns and pastures.

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Did You Know?

Infested lawns develop a distinctive purple-striped discoloration from the toxins injected during feeding.

White Morpho

A large pearly white morpho butterfly with subtle iridescent sheen on its broad wings. It has a slower, more gliding flight than its blue relatives.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the vivid blue morphos, this species uses its pale coloring to blend with dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.