Changa Mole Cricket vs Currant Clearwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Changa Mole Cricket | Currant Clearwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scapteriscus didactylus | Synanthedon tipuliformis |
| Order | Orthoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Gryllotalpidae | Sesiidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm | 17-22 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Caribbean, South America | Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Changa Mole Cricket
A large mole cricket native to South America that became a severe pest in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It has only two claws on its digging forefeet.
Did You Know?
Its name changa comes from the Puerto Rican Spanish word for the insect, where it historically devastated sugarcane plantations.
Currant Clearwing
A small wasp-mimicking moth with transparent wings and a black body banded with yellow. Its larvae bore into the stems of currant and gooseberry bushes.
Did You Know?
Its wasp mimicry is so convincing that gardeners who encounter it rarely realise they are looking at a moth.