Verrucarum Sandfly vs Changa Mole Cricket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Verrucarum Sandfly | Changa Mole Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lutzomyia verrucarum | Scapteriscus didactylus |
| Order | Diptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Psychodidae | Gryllotalpidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 30-40 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Peru, Andean valleys of South America | Caribbean, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Verrucarum Sandfly
A small sandfly found in the inter-Andean valleys of Peru, serving as the vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever and verruga peruana). It is active at dusk and night at altitudes between 800 and 3,000 meters.
Did You Know?
Carrion's disease killed thousands of workers during construction of the Lima-La Oroya railway in the 1870s.
Changa Mole Cricket
A large mole cricket native to South America that became a severe pest in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It has only two claws on its digging forefeet.
Did You Know?
Its name changa comes from the Puerto Rican Spanish word for the insect, where it historically devastated sugarcane plantations.