Large Case Moth vs Pennant Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Case Moth Pennant Ant
Scientific Name Metura elongatus Technomyrmex albipes
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Psychidae Formicidae
Size Case up to 15 cm long; male moth 2-3 cm wingspan 2.5-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Fruit Feeders
Regions Australia Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Large Case Moth

A bagworm moth whose larva builds a distinctive silk case covered in sticks and leaves. The wingless female never leaves her case, while males are small dark moths.

💡

Did You Know?

The wingless, legless adult female lives and dies inside her larval case after mating.

Pennant Ant

A small dark ant with conspicuous whitish legs that forms long trailing columns up trees. It is a widespread tramp species found throughout the Old World tropics.

💡

Did You Know?

They are important dispersal agents for certain epiphytic plants whose seeds they carry to tree crevices.