Forest Bug vs African Mantidfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Forest Bug African Mantidfly
Scientific Name Pentatoma rufipes Sagittalata olivacea
Order Hemiptera Neuroptera
Family Pentatomidae Mantispidae
Size 13-16 mm 18-26 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Parasitoids
Regions Europe Southern Africa, East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Forest Bug

A large European shield bug with distinctive red-orange legs and a small tooth on each shoulder. It is arboreal and common on deciduous trees.

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Did You Know?

Despite being mainly herbivorous, it occasionally turns predatory and feeds on caterpillars and other soft insects.

African Mantidfly

A greenish African mantidfly found in woodland and bushveld habitats. Like all mantidflies, it has distinctive raptorial front legs.

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Did You Know?

Larvae ride on female spiders phoretically, waiting for them to lay eggs before entering the egg sac.