Ceylonese Angel Insect vs American Moth-Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ceylonese Angel Insect American Moth-Butterfly
Scientific Name Zorotypus ceylanicus Macrosoma heliconiaria
Order Zoraptera Lepidoptera
Family Zorotypidae Hedylidae
Size 2-3 mm 38-45 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Herbivores
Regions South Asia, Sri Lanka Central America, South America
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Ceylonese Angel Insect

A rare tropical zorapteran found in the forests of Sri Lanka. Colonies live beneath bark and in rotting timber in humid environments.

💡

Did You Know?

This species demonstrates that Zoraptera have a pantropical distribution despite being so rarely encountered.

American Moth-Butterfly

Pale greenish-gray moth-like butterfly with rounded wings and nocturnal habits. Represents the evolutionary link between butterflies and moths.

💡

Did You Know?

Despite looking like moths, DNA evidence confirms hedylids are true butterflies within Papilionoidea.