Feathered Thorn vs Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Feathered Thorn	Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly
Scientific Name	Colotois pennaria	Pamphilius betulae
Order	Lepidoptera	Hymenoptera
Family	Geometridae	Pamphiliidae
Size	40-50 mm wingspan	9-13 mm
Habitat	Underground	Woodlands
Diet	Herbivores	Herbivores
Regions	Europe, western Asia	Europe, northern Asia
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Feathered Thorn

An autumn-flying moth with warm orange-brown wings and males bearing dramatically feathered antennae. It flies late in the year when few other moths are active.

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Did You Know?

Males use their enormous feathered antennae to detect female pheromones on cold autumn nights.

Birch Leaf-Roller Sawfly

A flat-bodied sawfly with long, thread-like antennae and a broad abdomen. Larvae roll birch leaves into tubes using silk and feed inside these shelters.

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Did You Know?

The larva creates an elaborate rolled-leaf shelter that protects it from both predators and weather while it feeds inside.