Goat Moth vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Goat Moth Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Scientific Name Cossus cossus Gynaephora groenlandica
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Cossidae Erebidae
Size 68-96 mm wingspan 30-40 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Goat Moth

A large moth whose caterpillars bore deep into hardwood trees for up to four years.

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Did You Know?

Larvae emit a strong goat-like odor from which the moth gets its name.

Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.