Colorado Three-lined Leaf Beetle vs Lesser Swallow Prominent Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Colorado Three-lined Leaf Beetle | Lesser Swallow Prominent Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lema trivittata | Pheosia gnoma |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Notodontidae |
| Size | 5-6 mm | 44-54 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western North America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Colorado Three-lined Leaf Beetle
A small, elongated beetle with an orange-yellow body and three dark longitudinal stripes on the elytra. It feeds on tomatillo and ground cherry in the western United States.
Did You Know?
Like other Lema species, the larvae cover themselves in their own frass, which may serve both as camouflage and as a deterrent to parasitoids.
Lesser Swallow Prominent Moth
A white moth very similar to the Swallow Prominent but with a thinner dark wedge mark and a clear white hindwing. It is associated with birch rather than poplar.
Did You Know?
It can be reliably separated from its close relative only by examining the width of the forewing wedge mark.