Casemaking Clothes Moth vs Great Purple Hairstreak
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Casemaking Clothes Moth | Great Purple Hairstreak |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tinea pellionella | Atlides halesus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Tineidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm wingspan | 32-50 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Cosmopolitan | Southern United States from California to the Atlantic coast |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Casemaking Clothes Moth
A small silvery-brown moth whose larva constructs a portable silken case that it drags along as it feeds. It is a significant pest of furs, woolens, and museum specimens.
Did You Know?
The larva never leaves its portable case, enlarging it as it grows by adding fibers from whatever material it is eating.
Great Purple Hairstreak
The largest hairstreak in North America with brilliant iridescent blue upperside wings and a bright red-orange abdomen. Its underside is dark with metallic blue and red spots near the tails.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillars feed only on mistletoe, and females seek out this parasitic plant high in oak canopies to lay their eggs.