Five-Spotted Hawk Moth vs Green Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Five-Spotted Hawk Moth | Green Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Manduca quinquemaculata | Chrysoperla carnea |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Chrysopidae |
| Size | 95-130 mm wingspan | 12-20 mm body, 30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Throughout North America | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Five-Spotted Hawk Moth
A large mottled gray moth whose caterpillar is the familiar tomato hornworm with a distinctive black horn. The adult has five pairs of yellow-orange spots on its abdomen.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillar is frequently confused with the tobacco hornworm but can be distinguished by its V-shaped white markings instead of diagonal stripes.
Green Lacewing
Delicate green insects with lace-like wings and golden eyes. Larvae are ferocious predators nicknamed "aphid lions." Widely used in biological pest control.
Did You Know?
Lacewing larvae are such effective predators they are nicknamed "aphid lions" — a single larva can devour 200 aphids per week during its development.