Abbott's Sphinx Moth vs Zela Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Abbott's Sphinx Moth | Zela Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphecodina abbottii | Emesis zela |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 50-70 mm | 25-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Abbott's Sphinx Moth
A unique hawk moth with scalloped brown wings and a yellow and brown banded body resembling a large hornet. Its flight is rapid and bee-like, flying mainly at dusk.
Did You Know?
Abbott's sphinx is named after John Abbott, an 18th-century English naturalist who produced over 3,000 paintings of Georgian insects.
Zela Metalmark
A small butterfly with rust-brown wings marked with fine dark lines and subtle metallic scaling. It inhabits mountain canyons in the borderlands of Arizona and Mexico.
Did You Know?
It is one of the target species for butterfly watchers visiting the famous canyons of southeastern Arizona.