Buff Ermine Moth vs Wallace's Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Buff Ermine Moth | Wallace's Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Spilosoma lutea | Heliconius wallacei |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Erebidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 34-42 mm wingspan | 60-72 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Buff Ermine Moth
A creamy-buff moth with scattered dark spots and a distinctive dark streak along the forewing costa. It closely resembles the White Ermine but has warmer tones.
Did You Know?
Unlike many ermine moths, it has a conspicuous dark diagonal streak near the wing tip.
Wallace's Longwing
A relatively rare Heliconius species with dark wings marked by a distinctive yellow band on the forewing and red patches at the base of the hindwing. Named after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It is primarily found in western Amazonian forests.
Did You Know?
Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection while studying insects in South America and Southeast Asia.