Alder Spittlebug vs Brook-Side Feather-Moss

Aphrophora alni compared with Hygroamblystegium fluviatile

Key Differences

Alder Spittlebug is Least Concern while Brook-Side Feather-Moss is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alder Spittlebug	Brook-Side Feather-Moss
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Bryophyta
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Bryopsida (Bryopsida)
Order	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Hypnales (Hypnales)
Family	Aphrophoridae	Amblystegiaceae
Genus	Aphrophora	Hygroamblystegium
Species	Aphrophora alni	Hygroamblystegium fluviatile

Conservation Status

Alder Spittlebug

LC — Least Concern

Brook-Side Feather-Moss

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alder Spittlebug	Brook-Side Feather-Moss
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).

Brook-Side Feather-Moss

Habitat

Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, Portugal, and United States. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Brook-Side Feather-Moss

The Brook-Side Feather-Moss (Hygroamblystegium fluviatile) is a species in the genus Hygroamblystegium. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.