Mother-of-Pearl Caddis vs South American Wattle Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mother-of-Pearl Caddis South American Wattle Sawfly
Scientific Name Glyphotaelius pellucidus Arge pullata
Order Trichoptera Hymenoptera
Family Limnephilidae Argidae
Size 15-22 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mother-of-Pearl Caddis

A large European caddisfly with translucent wings that shimmer with iridescence. Larvae construct flat cases from pieces of dead leaves.

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Did You Know?

Larvae cut leaf pieces into precise rectangles to build their distinctive flat cases.

South American Wattle Sawfly

A shiny black argid sawfly that feeds on wattle (Acacia) trees. Larvae are green with dark dorsal markings and can cause significant defoliation.

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Did You Know?

This species is one of the relatively few argid sawflies found in Africa, where the family is less diverse than in other continents.