Common Nawab vs Teak Defoliator Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Nawab | Teak Defoliator Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polyura athamas | Hyblaea puera |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Hyblaeidae |
| Size | Wingspan 70-90mm | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Nawab
A large butterfly with pale green-white wings edged in black with two prominent hindwing tails. It has a powerful fast flight and is rarely seen feeding on flowers.
Did You Know?
Instead of flowers it feeds on rotting fruit, tree sap, and animal dung using its proboscis to probe wet surfaces.
Teak Defoliator Moth
A medium-sized moth with orange-brown forewings and bright orange hindwings bordered in black. Its caterpillars are the most devastating defoliators of teak plantations across South Asia, stripping trees bare.
Did You Know?
During outbreak years, entire teak forests turn brown as millions of caterpillars strip every leaf, though the trees typically refoliate.