New Zealand Praying Mantis vs Verrucarum Sandfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Praying Mantis | Verrucarum Sandfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthodera novaezealandiae | Lutzomyia verrucarum |
| Order | Mantodea | Diptera |
| Family | Mantidae | Psychodidae |
| Size | 35-45 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Peru, Andean valleys of South 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.
Verrucarum Sandfly
A small sandfly found in the inter-Andean valleys of Peru, serving as the vector of Bartonella bacilliformis, which causes Carrion's disease (Oroya fever and verruga peruana). It is active at dusk and night at altitudes between 800 and 3,000 meters.
Did You Know?
Carrion's disease killed thousands of workers during construction of the Lima-La Oroya railway in the 1870s.