Banded Hairstreak vs Japanese Lunar Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Hairstreak | Japanese Lunar Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Satyrium calanus | Actias aliena |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 25-32 mm wingspan | 80-120 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Eastern United States and southeastern Canada | East Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Banded Hairstreak
A small dark brown butterfly with conspicuous bands of white-edged dark dashes on its hindwing underside. It has a short thin tail and a small orange spot near the tail.
Did You Know?
It rubs its hindwings together after landing, moving the tails to mimic antennae and trick predators into attacking the wrong end.
Japanese Lunar Moth
A beautiful pale green moon moth found in Japan, known as 'o-mizuao.' Features long, elegant tail streamers on the hindwings. Closely related to the Luna moth of North America.
Did You Know?
The long tail streamers on the hindwings create acoustic interference that confuses bat echolocation, helping the moth evade predation.