Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth vs Common Mormon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth | Common Mormon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Malacosoma americanum | Papilio polytes |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lasiocampidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 25–38 mm wingspan | 90-100 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | South Asia, Southeast Asia |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
A common moth whose caterpillars build conspicuous silk tents in the forks of cherry and apple trees. Colonies cooperate to build and expand their communal shelter.
Did You Know?
Caterpillars lay silk trail pheromones to guide nestmates to the best feeding sites on the tree.
Common Mormon
Males are plain black with a cream band; females occur in multiple forms mimicking different toxic species. A textbook example of female-limited polymorphism.
Did You Know?
A single gene called doublesex controls the switch between its mimetic female forms.