Congo Moth vs Puriri Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Congo Moth | Puriri Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dactyloceras lucina | Aenetus virescens |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Hepialidae |
| Size | 90-130 mm wingspan | 100-150 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Central Africa (Congo Basin) | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Males can detect a single molecule of female pheromone from over a kilometer away using their elaborate antennae.
Puriri Moth
New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particularly puriri and putaputaweta, creating characteristic U-shaped tunnels. Adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Did You Know?
Puriri moth larvae can spend up to six years boring through living tree trunks before pupating and emerging as adults that live only a few days.