Apple Sawfly vs Silver-striped Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Apple Sawfly Silver-striped Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Hoplocampa testudinea Hippotion celerio
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Sphingidae
Size 6-7 mm 60-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, introduced to North America East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Apple Sawfly

A small brown-and-yellow sawfly that is a significant pest of apple orchards. Larvae bore into developing apples, leaving characteristic ribbon-like scars on the fruit surface.

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Did You Know?

A single larva can destroy three to four developing fruits by boring through them, leaving a trail of frass-filled tunnels.

Silver-striped Hawk Moth

A medium-sized hawk moth with olive-brown forewings and bright pink hindwings, featuring silver stripes along the body. It is a powerful migrant found throughout the tropics.

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Did You Know?

Its caterpillars have prominent eyespots that make them look like small snakes to deter predators.