Giant Lacewing vs Royal Walnut Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Lacewing | Royal Walnut Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polystoechotes punctata | Citheronia sepulcralis |
| Order | Neuroptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Ithonidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 40-75 mm wingspan | 75-100 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Southeastern United States |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Giant Lacewing
Once widespread across North America, it vanished from the eastern US by the 1950s. A single specimen was rediscovered in Walmart parking lot in Arkansas in 2012 after 50 years.
Did You Know?
This giant lacewing was thought extinct in eastern North America for 50 years — until a single specimen was collected at a Walmart parking lot in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012.
Royal Walnut Moth
A rich brown moth with orange veins and small yellow spots. It is closely related to the regal moth but smaller and darker, found in southeastern pine forests.
Did You Know?
Citheronia sepulcralis is restricted to the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains and is far less commonly encountered than its more famous relative, the regal moth.