Southwestern Corn Borer vs Currant Clearwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southwestern Corn Borer | Currant Clearwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diatraea grandiosella | Synanthedon tipuliformis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Crambidae | Sesiidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm wingspan | 17-22 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern United States, Mexico | Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Southwestern Corn Borer
A pale moth whose larvae bore into corn stalks and girdle stems from the inside, causing extensive lodging. It is a major corn pest in the southern Great Plains of the United States.
Did You Know?
Overwintering larvae girdle the corn stalk from the inside, deliberately weakening it so the stalk falls and provides insulated shelter.
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.