White-Tipped Planthopper vs Tarnished Plant Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute White-Tipped Planthopper Tarnished Plant Bug
Scientific Name Siphanta acuta Lygus lineolaris
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Flatidae Miridae
Size 7-10 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Orchards Farmland
Diet Sap Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Australia, introduced to Hawaii, California, Mediterranean North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

White-Tipped Planthopper

A bright green, wedge-shaped planthopper with white-tipped wings that mimics a small leaf. It is a common pest that has spread to many subtropical regions.

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Did You Know?

It holds its wings steeply tent-like over its body, creating a perfect leaf-shaped silhouette.

Tarnished Plant Bug

A small, mottled brown and green plant bug that is one of the most damaging agricultural pests in North America. It feeds on over 300 plant species, causing distorted growth and blemished fruits. The adults are strong fliers that readily colonize new fields.

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Did You Know?

Its feeding injects a toxin that destroys plant cells around the feeding site, causing the characteristic dimpled, scarred appearance on strawberries known as 'catfacing.'