Blue Striped Nettle Grub vs Japanese Giant Silkmoth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Striped Nettle Grub Japanese Giant Silkmoth
Scientific Name Parasa lepida Saturnia japonica
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Limacodidae Saturniidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 85-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Mountains
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar) Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Striped Nettle Grub

A small moth with vivid green forewings edged in dark chocolate brown. The caterpillar is bright green with blue longitudinal stripes and bears venomous urticating spines that cause intense pain.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar's sting is so painful it is compared to a wasp sting, and the venomous spines can cause welts lasting several days.

Japanese Giant Silkmoth

A large reddish-brown moth with prominent eyespots on all four wings. It is endemic to Japan and closely related to the European Emperor Moth.

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Did You Know?

It is considered a harbinger of spring in rural Japan, where it is called 'kusu-san'.