Saunders' Case Moth vs Golden Carpenter Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Saunders' Case Moth Golden Carpenter Ant
Scientific Name Metura saundersi Camponotus sericeiventris
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Psychidae Formicidae
Size Case up to 8 cm long; male moth 1.5-2 cm wingspan 8-18 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Australia Central and South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Saunders' Case Moth

A smaller relative of the large case moth that constructs a tapering case of silk and plant debris. Males are dark, short-lived moths while females remain in their cases.

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Did You Know?

Each case is individually crafted and can take over a year to fully construct.

Golden Carpenter Ant

A striking large ant with dense golden or silvery pubescence covering its gaster, giving it a metallic sheen. Workers are among the largest ants in the Neotropics. They nest in both live and dead trees in tropical forests.

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Did You Know?

The dense pubescence on their body is thought to serve a thermoregulatory function similar to the Saharan silver ant.