Blue Morpho vs Puriri Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Morpho | Puriri Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Morpho menelaus | Aenetus virescens |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Hepialidae |
| Size | 120-150 mm wingspan | 100-150 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Grasslands |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Morpho
Renowned for its brilliant iridescent blue wings. The color is not from pigment but from microscopic scales that reflect light. Underwings are brown with eyespots.
Did You Know?
The blue morphos wings are not actually blue — their color comes from millions of nanoscale ridges that manipulate light through constructive interference.
Puriri Moth
New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particularly puriri and putaputaweta, creating characteristic U-shaped tunnels. Adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Did You Know?
Puriri moth larvae can spend up to six years boring through living tree trunks before pupating and emerging as adults that live only a few days.