New Zealand Praying Mantis vs Currant Stem Girdler
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Praying Mantis | Currant Stem Girdler |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthodera novaezealandiae | Janus integer |
| Order | Mantodea | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Mantidae | Cephidae |
| Size | 35-45 mm | 8-11 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
New Zealand Praying Mantis
New Zealand's only native praying mantis, a small bright green species found throughout the country. It is now threatened by competition from the larger introduced South African mantis. Females are larger than males and occasionally cannibalize them after mating.
Did You Know?
The native New Zealand mantis is being outcompeted by the introduced South African mantis, which arrived around 1978 and is now more common in many areas.
Currant Stem Girdler
A slender black stem sawfly that attacks currant and gooseberry bushes. Females girdle the stem tips with their ovipositor, causing them to wilt.
Did You Know?
The female girdles the stem above the egg insertion point, causing the tip to wilt and die, which provides the larva with softened stem tissue to feed on.