Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth) vs Moss Katydid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth) | Moss Katydid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Liothula omnivora | Haemodiasma tessellata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Psychidae | Tettigoniidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm (male wingspan); cases up to 100 mm | 35-50 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Mountains |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Borneo, Sumatra |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)
A native New Zealand bag moth whose caterpillars construct elaborate portable cases covered with twigs and leaf fragments. Female adults are wingless grubs that never leave their bags. Males are small dark moths that fly to find stationary females.
Did You Know?
The female bag moth never develops wings or legs and spends her entire life inside the bag, even laying her eggs within it before dying.
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.
Did You Know?
Its body surface even mimics the tiny structures of real moss, including sporophyte-like bumps across its wings.