Tanbark Borer vs African Bark Mantis
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tanbark Borer | African Bark Mantis |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phymatodes testaceus | Tarachodes afzelii |
| Order | Coleoptera | Mantodea |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Eremiaphilidae |
| Size | 8-17 mm | 25-35 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, introduced to North America | West Africa, Central Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tanbark Borer
A small, highly variable cerambycid ranging from pale yellow to dark brown or violet. It breeds under the bark of recently dead oaks across Europe and North America. Adults are nocturnal and come freely to lights.
Did You Know?
Color variation in this species is so extreme that over a dozen color forms have been named, all belonging to one species.
African Bark Mantis
A small flat mantis with mottled grey-brown coloring perfectly matching tree bark. It presses its body flat against trunks to hunt.
Did You Know?
They run sideways across bark surfaces with remarkable speed, a behavior unique among mantises.