Asian Mud Dauber vs Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Asian Mud Dauber Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth
Scientific Name Sceliphron curvatum Bunaea alcinoe
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphecidae Saturniidae
Size 15-25 mm 100-160 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Central Asia, Europe Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Asian Mud Dauber

A dark-bodied mud dauber originally from Central Asia now invasive across Europe. It builds mud nests inside buildings and provisions them with spiders.

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Did You Know?

It spread from its native range in India and Central Asia to colonize most of southern and central Europe within just 30 years.

Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth

A large emperor moth with reddish-brown wings bearing prominent eyespots. Larvae are gregarious and covered in branching spines.

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Did You Know?

In parts of southern Africa, the large protein-rich caterpillars are harvested and eaten as mopane worm alternatives.