Corn Earworm vs Orange-tip

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Corn Earworm Orange-tip
Scientific Name Helicoverpa zea Anthocharis cardamines
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Noctuidae Pieridae
Size 35-40 mm wingspan 38-48 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Americas Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Corn Earworm

A highly polyphagous moth whose caterpillars feed inside corn ears, tomato fruits, and cotton bolls. It is one of the costliest crop pests in the Americas.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars are cannibalistic, so usually only one survives per corn ear.

Orange-tip

Males have bright orange wingtips; females are plain white with black tips. A herald of spring in European woodlands.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol hedgerows searching for freshly emerged females, never visiting the same flower patch twice.