Alder Spittlebug vs Blue Featherleg

Aphrophora alni compared with Platycnemis pennipes

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alder Spittlebug	Blue Featherleg
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Odonata (Odonata)
Family	Aphrophoridae	Platycnemididae
Genus	Aphrophora	Platycnemis
Species	Aphrophora alni	Platycnemis pennipes

Evolutionary Relationship

Alder Spittlebug and Blue Featherleg share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

View Class: Insecta

Conservation Status

Alder Spittlebug

LC — Least Concern

Blue Featherleg

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alder Spittlebug	Blue Featherleg
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alder Spittlebug

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

Blue Featherleg

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Alder Spittlebug

The Alder Spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) is a species in the genus Aphrophora. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Blue Featherleg

A medium-sized damselfly of still and slow-flowing freshwater habitats across Europe and western Asia, blue featherlegs are named for the striking feathery tibia fringe on the males' hind legs, waved during courtship displays. Males display pale blue coloration while females are olive-green. They perch on emergent vegetation and are a good indicator species for water quality in riverine habitats. Populations have declined locally due to water pollution and agricultural intensification.