Ghost Moth vs Rothschild's Silkmoth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ghost Moth | Rothschild's Silkmoth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hepialus humuli | Rothschildia jacobaeae |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 44-65 mm wingspan | 100-150 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Heathland |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
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.
Rothschild's Silkmoth
A large silkmoth with reddish-brown wings featuring bold triangular translucent patches. Each wing also bears a crescent-shaped eyespot.
Did You Know?
The clear windows in its wings are completely scaleless, which is unusual since moth wings are normally covered in thousands of scales.