Fall Webworm vs Heliconius Hecale Longwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fall Webworm Heliconius Hecale Longwing
Scientific Name Hyphantria cunea Heliconius hecale
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Nymphalidae
Size 25-42 mm wingspan 70-85 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions North America, Europe, Asia South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil)
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Fall Webworm

A native North American moth whose caterpillars build communal silk webs on tree branches. It has become invasive in Europe and Asia.

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Did You Know?

Unlike tent caterpillars, fall webworm nests enclose the foliage the larvae are feeding on.

Heliconius Hecale Longwing

A large Heliconius butterfly with black wings marked by broad orange and yellow patches. It is one of the most widespread species in the genus and is a participant in multiple mimicry rings. Adults are unusually long-lived for butterflies, surviving up to six months.

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Did You Know?

It forms communal roosts of up to 30 individuals that return to the same branch every evening, providing safety in numbers.