Spiny Flower Mantis vs Sand Fly Caddis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Spiny Flower Mantis	Sand Fly Caddis
Scientific Name	Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii	Glossosoma intermedium
Order	Mantodea	Trichoptera
Family	Hymenopodidae	Glossosomatidae
Size	30-50 mm	6-9 mm
Habitat	Underground	Rivers & Streams
Diet	Omnivores	Omnivores
Regions	Africa	North America
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Spiny Flower Mantis

Small, colorful mantis with spectacular eye-like patterns on its wings displayed in a threat pose. White and green body with pink and yellow highlights. Native to southern Africa.

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Did You Know?

The spiny flower mantis has eye-like spiral patterns on its wings — when threatened, it raises them in a dramatic display that makes it look much larger and more intimidating.

Sand Fly Caddis

A small caddisfly whose larvae build distinctive tortoise-shell-shaped stone cases. They are important grazers on algae-covered stream rocks.

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Did You Know?

Glossosoma larvae abandon and rebuild their dome-shaped cases each time they need to move to a new grazing site.