Currant Clearwing vs Asian Comma Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Currant Clearwing | Asian Comma Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Synanthedon tipuliformis | Polygonia c-aureum |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sesiidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 17-22 mm wingspan | 45-55 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia (introduced worldwide) | East Asia, Japan/Korea |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Currant Clearwing
A small wasp-mimicking moth with transparent wings and a black body banded with yellow. Its larvae bore into the stems of currant and gooseberry bushes.
Did You Know?
Its wasp mimicry is so convincing that gardeners who encounter it rarely realise they are looking at a moth.
Asian Comma Butterfly
Known as 'ki-tataha' in Japanese, this butterfly has distinctively jagged wing edges that provide excellent camouflage among dead leaves. A white or silver comma mark on the hindwing underside gives it its name.
Did You Know?
When this butterfly closes its wings, it looks exactly like a dead leaf, providing near-perfect camouflage against predators.