California Web Spinner vs Common Web Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute California Web Spinner Common Web Spinner
Scientific Name Oligotoma moestum Embia major
Order Embioptera Embioptera
Family Oligotomidae Embiidae
Size 7.0-10.0 mm 10.0-15.0 mm
Habitat Gardens Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Gall Makers
Regions North America, Asia Europe, Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

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.

Common Web Spinner

A dark brown web spinner that constructs silk galleries on tree bark and under stones. Males are winged while females are always wingless.

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Did You Know?

Web spinners produce silk from glands in their enlarged front feet, the only insects to spin silk with their tarsi.