Coxcomb Prominent Moth vs Magpie Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Coxcomb Prominent Moth Magpie Moth
Scientific Name Ptilodon capucina Abraxas grossulariata
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Notodontidae Geometridae
Size 38-46 mm wingspan 38-48 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Coxcomb Prominent Moth

A variably colored prominent moth ranging from pale brown to deep chestnut. A raised crest of scales on the forewing trailing edge forms the distinctive coxcomb.

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Did You Know?

Its color varies so much that dark and pale forms look like completely different species.

Magpie Moth

A conspicuous white moth with bold black spots and an orange-yellow band across the wings. It played a historic role in the discovery of sex-linked inheritance.

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Did You Know?

Leonard Doncaster's experiments on this moth in 1906 provided early evidence for sex-linked genetics.