Borneo Giant Firefly vs Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Borneo Giant Firefly Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
Scientific Name Lamprigera borneensis Malacosoma disstria
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lampyridae Lasiocampidae
Size 25-60 mm (female), 12-18 mm (male) 25–35 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Southeast Asia, Borneo North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Borneo Giant Firefly

A very large tropical firefly from Borneo with massive larviform females that glow brightly. Males are smaller and winged with well-developed eyes for locating glowing females on the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

The enormous larviform females are sometimes mistaken for caterpillars or worms by people encountering them on the forest floor.

Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth

A widespread North American moth whose caterpillars defoliate vast areas of hardwood forest. Despite the name, they form silken mats rather than true tents.

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Did You Know?

Outbreaks can defoliate millions of hectares of forest, though healthy trees usually recover with new leaves.