Currant Clearwing vs Marbled Sedge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Currant Clearwing Marbled Sedge
Scientific Name Synanthedon tipuliformis Hydropsyche contubernalis
Order Lepidoptera Trichoptera
Family Sesiidae Hydropsychidae
Size 17-22 mm wingspan 12-18 mm
Habitat Underground Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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Did You Know?

Its wasp mimicry is so convincing that gardeners who encounter it rarely realise they are looking at a moth.

Marbled Sedge

A net-spinning caddisfly with distinctly marbled wing patterns. It is common in larger European rivers and is tolerant of moderate levels of organic enrichment.

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Did You Know?

Marbled sedge larvae are territorial and will aggressively defend their net-spinning sites from rivals.