Arctic Caddisfly vs Orizaba Silk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Caddisfly Orizaba Silk Moth
Scientific Name Apatania zonella Rothschildia orizaba
Order Trichoptera Lepidoptera
Family Apataniidae Saturniidae
Size 6-9 mm 110-145 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Arctic Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Arctic Canada Mexico, Central America, southwestern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Caddisfly

A small, hairy-winged caddisfly with dark brown wings held tent-like over the body. Larvae build portable cases from sand grains and small stones. It is one of the most northerly distributed caddisflies in the world.

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Did You Know?

Some Arctic populations of this caddisfly reproduce by parthenogenesis, with females producing offspring without mating.

Orizaba Silk Moth

A magnificent New World silk moth with large reddish-brown wings bearing conspicuous triangular clear windows. It was historically reared for its silk in parts of Mexico.

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Did You Know?

Indigenous peoples of Mexico once used the silk from Rothschildia orizaba cocoons to weave a coarse fabric, making it one of the few New World silk moths commercially utilized.