Autumnal Moth vs Richmond Birdwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Autumnal Moth | Richmond Birdwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epirrita autumnata | Ornithoptera richmondia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 28-35 mm wingspan | 11-13 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic Siberia | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
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.
Richmond Birdwing
A large subtropical birdwing butterfly with green and black males and brown females. It is threatened by habitat loss and a toxic introduced vine.
Did You Know?
Larvae that accidentally feed on the invasive Dutchman's pipe vine are poisoned and die.