Fall Webworm vs Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fall Webworm Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail
Scientific Name Hyphantria cunea Papilio protenor
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Papilionidae
Size 25-42 mm wingspan 80-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Gardens
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions North America, Europe, Asia East Asia, Japan/Korea
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.

Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail

A striking all-black swallowtail known as 'kuro-ageha' in Japanese. The hindwings have subtle red and blue markings. Common in wooded areas and gardens across Japan and Korea.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars of this species have a remarkable snake-mimicry defense, with large eyespots on their thorax that resemble a snake's head.