African Web Spinner vs California Web Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Web Spinner California Web Spinner
Scientific Name Embia savignyi Oligotoma moestum
Order Embioptera Embioptera
Family Embiidae Oligotomidae
Size 9.0-13.0 mm 7.0-10.0 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Gardens
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Africa, Asia North America, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

African Web Spinner

A medium-sized web spinner found across North Africa and the Middle East. It constructs silk tunnels under stones in semi-arid environments.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the first web spinners ever described, named by the French entomologist Westwood in 1837.

California Web Spinner

A small introduced web spinner now established in California and other warm parts of the United States. It is commonly found in gardens and around buildings.

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Did You Know?

This species was accidentally introduced to the Americas and is now one of the few web spinners most North Americans ever encounter.