Brazilian Pergid Sawfly vs Mantidfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brazilian Pergid Sawfly Mantidfly
Scientific Name Perreyia flavipes Mantispa styriaca
Order Hymenoptera Neuroptera
Family Pergidae Mantispidae
Size 8-12 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Grasslands Heathland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions South America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Brazilian Pergid Sawfly

A medium-sized pergid sawfly with dark coloring and yellowish legs. Larvae are gregarious and feed on various plant species in pastures and open areas.

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Did You Know?

The larvae of this species are toxic to livestock; cattle and sheep that ingest the larvae while grazing can develop severe liver damage and die.

Mantidfly

A remarkable insect with raptorial forelegs strikingly similar to a praying mantis, a textbook example of convergent evolution. Adults ambush small insects from vegetation.

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Did You Know?

Mantidfly larvae are parasitoids that enter spider egg sacs and feed on the eggs before pupating inside.