Gooseberry Sawfly vs Deraeocoris Plant Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Gooseberry Sawfly Deraeocoris Plant Bug
Scientific Name Nematus ribesii Deraeocoris ruber
Order Hymenoptera Hemiptera
Family Tenthredinidae Miridae
Size 6-8 mm (adult) 6-8 mm
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions Europe, North America Europe, western Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Gooseberry Sawfly

The most destructive insect pest of gooseberry and red currant bushes in Europe. Larvae can strip bushes completely of leaves within days.

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Did You Know?

Three generations per year mean larvae can be found feeding from spring through autumn.

Deraeocoris Plant Bug

A small, shiny dark reddish-brown to black predatory plant bug found across Europe. It feeds on aphids, spider mites, and psyllids on various trees and shrubs. The coloration is highly variable, ranging from red to nearly black.

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Did You Know?

Its extreme color variation confused early taxonomists who described several different species that were later found to be a single, highly polymorphic species.