Banana Moth vs Essex Skipper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banana Moth | Essex Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Opogona sacchari | Thymelicus lineola |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Tineidae | Hesperiidae |
| Size | 18-25 mm wingspan | 26-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Africa, South America | Europe, western Asia (introduced to North America) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banana Moth
A small tropical moth whose larvae bore into banana stems and stored tubers.
Did You Know?
It has spread globally through the international fruit trade.
Essex Skipper
A small orange-brown skipper so similar to the small skipper that it was not recognised as a separate British species until 1889. The undersides of its antenna tips are black, not orange.
Did You Know?
It was overlooked in Britain for over a century because it was confused with the nearly identical small skipper.