Congo Moth vs European Spruce Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Congo Moth European Spruce Sawfly
Scientific Name Dactyloceras lucina Gilpinia hercyniae
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Saturniidae Diprionidae
Size 90-130 mm wingspan 7-10 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Central Africa (Congo Basin) Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Congo Moth

A large brown emperor moth with distinctive serrated wing margins and large eyespots. Males have broadly feathered antennae for detecting female pheromones.

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Did You Know?

Males can detect a single molecule of female pheromone from over a kilometer away using their elaborate antennae.

European Spruce Sawfly

A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white lateral stripes and feed on spruce needles.

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Did You Know?

After its introduction to North America in the 1920s, it caused massive spruce defoliation until a naturally occurring nuclear polyhedrosis virus brought populations under control.