Columbia Silk Moth vs Karner Blue
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Columbia Silk Moth | Karner Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hyalophora columbia | Plebejus samuelis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 90-130 mm wingspan | 22-28 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Northern United States and Canada, particularly the Great Lakes region | Great Lakes and northeastern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Columbia Silk Moth
A large reddish-brown silk moth closely related to the cecropia moth but found in northern bog habitats. Its cocoon is spun on larch branches rather than broad-leaved trees.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few silk moths adapted to boreal wetlands, where its larvae specialize on conifer needles instead of hardwood leaves.
Karner Blue
A tiny bright blue butterfly with orange crescents on the hindwing underside that depends entirely on wild lupine. It is a federally endangered species in the United States.
Did You Know?
It was first described by novelist Vladimir Nabokov, who was also a serious lepidopterist at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology.