Forest Caterpillar Hunter vs Scarce Umber Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Forest Caterpillar Hunter Scarce Umber Moth
Scientific Name Calosoma sycophanta Agriopis aurantiaria
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Carabidae Geometridae
Size 25-35 mm 35-40 mm wingspan (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Europe, North Africa; introduced to North America Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Forest Caterpillar Hunter

A large, brilliant metallic green and gold ground beetle that climbs trees to hunt caterpillars. It was introduced to North America for gypsy moth biocontrol.

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Did You Know?

A single beetle can consume over 300 caterpillars during its larval and adult life.

Scarce Umber Moth

An autumn-flying moth with warm orange-brown wings marked with darker speckles. Females are wingless and crawl up tree trunks to await males.

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Did You Know?

It emerges so late in autumn that it sometimes flies in early snowfall.