Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth vs Bright-line Brown-eye Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth Bright-line Brown-eye Moth
Scientific Name Gynaephora rossii Lacanobia oleracea
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Noctuidae
Size 28-38 mm wingspan 35-44 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Gardens
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Canadian Arctic, Alaska, northern Siberia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth

A close relative of the Greenland woolly bear, this moth has pale gray wings and a densely furred body. The caterpillar is covered in long dark hairs and freezes solid each winter. Adults have reduced mouthparts.

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Did You Know?

This moth's caterpillar is parasitized at very high rates by ichneumon wasps, which may extend its already decade-long development even further.

Bright-line Brown-eye Moth

A reddish-brown moth with a prominent white-edged kidney mark and bright white subterminal line. It is a common garden moth across much of Europe.

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Did You Know?

It is sometimes called the tomato moth due to its caterpillar's fondness for greenhouse tomatoes.