Tasmanian Cave Cricket vs Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tasmanian Cave Cricket Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly
Scientific Name Micropathus ditto Xyela minor
Order Orthoptera Hymenoptera
Family Rhaphidophoridae Xyelidae
Size 10-15 mm 3-4 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions Australia North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Tasmanian Cave Cricket

A recently described cave cricket from wet forests of Tasmania, Australia. It is a short-range endemic threatened by habitat loss.

💡

Did You Know?

It was only formally described in recent years despite being known to cavers.

Xyelid Pine Bud Sawfly

A tiny sawfly with the characteristic elongated third antennal segment of its ancient family. Adults emerge in early spring to coincide with pine pollen release.

💡

Did You Know?

Xyelid sawflies time their adult emergence precisely to the few weeks when pine male cones are shedding pollen, their larvae's only food source.