Moss Katydid vs South African Argid Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Moss Katydid South African Argid Sawfly
Scientific Name Haemodiasma tessellata Arge capensis
Order Orthoptera Hymenoptera
Family Tettigoniidae Argidae
Size 35-50 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Mountains Heathland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Borneo, Sumatra Southern Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Moss Katydid

A katydid with a body covered in textured bumps and green-brown coloring that mimics moss and bark. It is virtually invisible when pressed against a mossy branch.

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Did You Know?

Its body surface even mimics the tiny structures of real moss, including sporophyte-like bumps across its wings.

South African Argid Sawfly

A medium-sized dark sawfly found in the fynbos and bushveld regions of South Africa. Adults have robust bodies and simple, three-segmented antennae typical of argids.

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Did You Know?

The Argidae is one of the few sawfly families with significant diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, where most other sawfly families are poorly represented.