Brown-tail Moth vs Green Banana Cockroach

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brown-tail Moth Green Banana Cockroach
Scientific Name Euproctis chrysorrhoea Panchlora nivea
Order Lepidoptera Blattodea
Family Erebidae Blaberidae
Size 36-42 mm wingspan 12-24 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Heathland
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, western Asia (introduced to North America) Central America, North America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Brown-tail Moth

A white moth with a conspicuous brown tuft of hairs at the tip of its abdomen, used to cover its eggs. The caterpillar's hairs are highly irritating and can cause widespread rashes.

💡

Did You Know?

Shed caterpillar hairs can become airborne and cause respiratory distress in people kilometres from the colony.

Green Banana Cockroach

A small, bright green cockroach often mistaken for a leaf or small moth. It is a strong flier attracted to lights and lives outdoors in tropical regions.

💡

Did You Know?

The vivid green color of this cockroach comes from a combination of pigments in its cuticle rather than from chlorophyll or plant-derived compounds.