Comstock's Green Lacewing vs New Zealand Katipo Spider

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Comstock's Green Lacewing New Zealand Katipo Spider
Scientific Name Chrysopa comanche Latrodectus katipo
Order Neuroptera Araneae
Family Chrysopidae Theridiidae
Size 14-20 mm wingspan 6-10 mm body
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation Least Concern Endangered

Comstock's Green Lacewing

A medium-sized green lacewing native to the American Southwest. Frequently found in arid scrubland and desert-edge habitats.

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Did You Know?

It thrives in hot, dry conditions that would stress most other lacewing species.

New Zealand Katipo Spider

New Zealand's most venomous spider, found only on coastal sand dunes. Although an arachnid, it is one of New Zealand's most iconic invertebrates. The name katipo means night stinger in Maori. It is now critically rare due to habitat loss.

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Did You Know?

Despite being closely related to the black widow and redback spiders, no human deaths from katipo bites have been recorded in New Zealand.