Chinese Character Moth vs Shuttle-shaped Dart Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chinese Character Moth Shuttle-shaped Dart Moth
Scientific Name Cilix glaucata Agrotis puta
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Drepanidae Noctuidae
Size 20-25 mm wingspan 30-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Farmland
Diet Omnivores Root Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Chinese Character Moth

A tiny moth whose resting posture perfectly mimics a bird dropping on a leaf. Its white wings bear a central brown blotch that completes the illusion.

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Did You Know?

Its bird-dropping disguise is so effective that even experienced entomologists can walk past it without noticing.

Shuttle-shaped Dart Moth

A small, pale greyish-brown moth with a shuttle-shaped claviform stigma. Males and females show different color tones, with females being darker.

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Did You Know?

It can produce two generations per year in warmer parts of its range.