Drinker Moth vs Southern Oak Bush-Cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Drinker Moth Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
Scientific Name Euthrix potatoria Meconema meridionale
Order Lepidoptera Orthoptera
Family Lasiocampidae Tettigoniidae
Size Wingspan 45-65mm 11-15 mm
Habitat Wetlands Forests
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Drinker Moth

A large golden-brown moth named because its caterpillar was observed drinking drops of dew from grass blades.

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Did You Know?

Named in the 18th century by a naturalist who repeatedly observed caterpillars carefully drinking water droplets from grass.

Southern Oak Bush-Cricket

A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.

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Did You Know?

Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.