Cairns Birdwing vs Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cairns Birdwing | Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ornithoptera euphorion | Liothula omnivora |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Psychidae |
| Size | Wingspan 120-150mm | 15-25 mm (male wingspan); cases up to 100 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Oceania | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cairns Birdwing
Australias largest endemic butterfly with males displaying vivid green and black wings. Females are larger and brown with white markings.
Did You Know?
It is the largest butterfly in Australia and was nearly driven to extinction by introduced Dutchmans pipe vines which are toxic to its larvae.
Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)
A native New Zealand bag moth whose caterpillars construct elaborate portable cases covered with twigs and leaf fragments. Female adults are wingless grubs that never leave their bags. Males are small dark moths that fly to find stationary females.
Did You Know?
The female bag moth never develops wings or legs and spends her entire life inside the bag, even laying her eggs within it before dying.