Short-tailed Ichneumon vs Currant Clearwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Short-tailed Ichneumon | Currant Clearwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ophion luteus | Synanthedon tipuliformis |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Sesiidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 17-22 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Short-tailed Ichneumon
A nocturnal parasitoid wasp with a strongly compressed, amber-orange body. It is commonly attracted to lights at night throughout Europe.
Did You Know?
Unlike most ichneumons, Ophion luteus is almost entirely nocturnal and frequently enters houses drawn by artificial light.
Currant Clearwing
A small wasp-mimicking moth with transparent wings and a black body banded with yellow. Its larvae bore into the stems of currant and gooseberry bushes.
Did You Know?
Its wasp mimicry is so convincing that gardeners who encounter it rarely realise they are looking at a moth.