Columbine Sawfly vs Crimson Speckled Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Columbine Sawfly | Crimson Speckled Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pristiphora aquilegiae | Utetheisa pulchella |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Tenthredinidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | Wingspan 33-42mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, introduced to North America | Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Columbine Sawfly
A small, dark sawfly whose pale green larvae feed on the leaves of columbine plants. Larvae can cause significant damage in flower gardens.
Did You Know?
Larvae feed from the leaf edges inward and can reduce a columbine plant to bare stems and leaf ribs within days.
Crimson Speckled Moth
A small stunning moth with white forewings densely spotted with black and red marks. It is a strong migrant found across the Old World tropics.
Did You Know?
It sequesters pyrrolizidine alkaloids from its host plants which males transfer to females as a nuptial gift during mating.