Forest Bristletail vs Painted Bat Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Forest Bristletail Painted Bat Moth
Scientific Name Machilis hrabei Alcidis zodiaca
Order Archaeognatha Lepidoptera
Family Machilidae Uraniidae
Size 8-12 mm 80-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Detritivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Central Europe Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Papua, Sulawesi, Maluku Islands)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Forest Bristletail

A central European bristletail inhabiting forest leaf litter and mossy rocks. It is one of many Machilis species found in Europe.

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Did You Know?

The genus Machilis was one of the first bristletail genera ever described.

Painted Bat Moth

A day-flying moth with iridescent blue-black wings marked with bands of brilliant orange and white patches. Its flight is slow and butterfly-like, displaying its warning colors conspicuously.

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Did You Know?

Despite being a moth, it is entirely diurnal and its iridescent wings rival the beauty of any butterfly in the region.