Ghost Moth vs Great Mullein Weevil
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ghost Moth | Great Mullein Weevil |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hepialus humuli | Cionus thapsus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | 44-65 mm wingspan | 3-4.5 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ghost Moth
Males are ghostly white and perform an eerie hovering dance over grassland at dusk to attract brownish females. This primitive moth has very short antennae and no functional mouthparts.
Did You Know?
Pendulum-like swaying of white males above grass at twilight gives them a genuinely ghostly appearance.
Great Mullein Weevil
A small rounded weevil found exclusively on great mullein plants. Similar to the figwort weevil but associated with different host plants. Larvae are external feeders in mucous cocoons.
Did You Know?
Each larva lives inside its own slimy mucous cocoon attached to the mullein leaf surface.