Arctic Woolly Bear Moth vs Flame Carpet Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth | Flame Carpet Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gynaephora groenlandica | Xanthorhoe designata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Erebidae | Geometridae |
| Size | 30-40 mm wingspan | 24-28 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.
Flame Carpet Moth
A small, attractive geometer moth with pinkish-brown and dark banding creating a flame-like pattern. Associated with cruciferous plants. Comes readily to moth traps.
Did You Know?
The flame-like wing pattern gives this common moth its evocative English name.