Black-Headed Ash Sawfly vs Bee-fly Hawk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black-Headed Ash Sawfly Bee-fly Hawk Moth
Scientific Name Tethida barda Macroglossum bombylans
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Sphingidae
Size 6-8 mm 30-40 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, southern China
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black-Headed Ash Sawfly

A small sawfly whose larvae have distinctive black heads and whitish-green bodies. They feed on the underside of ash leaflets, skeletonizing them.

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Did You Know?

This species is often mistaken for moth caterpillars, but like all sawfly larvae, it has more than five pairs of prolegs on its abdomen.

Bee-fly Hawk Moth

A small day-flying hawk moth that mimics a bumblebee with its furry body and buzzing flight. It visits flowers in gardens and forest edges across South and Southeast Asia.

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Did You Know?

Its species name 'bombylans' means 'buzzing like a bee,' referring to both its sound and appearance during flower visits.