Hawaiian Carnivorous Caterpillar vs Bark Mantis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hawaiian Carnivorous Caterpillar Bark Mantis
Scientific Name Eupithecia staurophragma Liturgusa sp.
Order Lepidoptera Mantodea
Family Geometridae Liturgusidae
Size 20-25 mm wingspan 20-35 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Hawaii South America, Central America
Conservation Not Evaluated Data Deficient

Hawaiian Carnivorous Caterpillar

A remarkable moth whose caterpillars are ambush predators of insects, unique among Lepidoptera. Found only in Hawaiian native forests.

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Did You Know?

These are among the only caterpillars in the world that actively hunt and eat other insects.

Bark Mantis

A flattened mantis species that lives on tree bark and is superbly camouflaged. Rather than ambushing prey, it actively chases insects across bark surfaces at high speed.

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Did You Know?

Bark mantises are among the fastest-running mantis species and will sprint across tree bark at speeds that rival many ground-dwelling predatory insects.