Autumnal Moth vs Ant-Mimicking Treehopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Autumnal Moth | Ant-Mimicking Treehopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epirrita autumnata | Cyphonia clavata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Geometridae | Membracidae |
| Size | 28-35 mm wingspan | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Predators |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic Siberia | Central America, South America |
| 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.
Ant-Mimicking Treehopper
A treehopper with a pronotal projection shaped like an ant sitting on its back. The ant mimic is thought to deter predators from attacking.
Did You Know?
The "ant" on its back is actually a hollow extension of its pronotum viewed from certain angles.