Currant Clearwing vs Costa Rican Dead Leaf Mantis
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Currant Clearwing | Costa Rican Dead Leaf Mantis |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synanthedon tipuliformis | Acanthops centralis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Mantodea |
| Family | Sesiidae | Acanthopidae |
| Size | 17-22 mm wingspan | 35-48 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) | Costa Rica, Panama |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
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.
Costa Rican Dead Leaf Mantis
The only Acanthops species found in Central America, extending the genus's range northward. It inhabits lowland wet forests of Costa Rica and Panama.
Did You Know?
It represents the northernmost range limit of the entire dead leaf mantis genus.