Autumnal Moth vs African Citrus Psyllid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Autumnal Moth African Citrus Psyllid
Scientific Name Epirrita autumnata Trioza erytreae
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Geometridae Triozidae
Size 28-35 mm wingspan 2-3 mm
Habitat Forests Orchards
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic Siberia Sub-Saharan Africa, Madeira, Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula (invasive)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Autumnal Moth

A grayish-brown moth with faint wavy crosslines on the forewings. It flies in autumn in subarctic birch forests. Periodic outbreaks of its larvae can completely defoliate vast areas of mountain birch forest.

💡

Did You Know?

Outbreaks of this moth in Scandinavian birch forests occur roughly every 10 years and can kill entire mountain birch forests across thousands of hectares.

African Citrus Psyllid

A small brownish psyllid that causes distinctive pit galls on citrus leaves. It vectors the African form of citrus greening disease and is expanding its range into Europe.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike the Asian citrus psyllid, this species prefers cooler climates and has been detected in Portugal and Spain, threatening Mediterranean citrus production.