Great Purple Emperor vs Spurge Hawkmoth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Great Purple Emperor Spurge Hawkmoth
Scientific Name Sasakia charonda Hyles euphorbiae
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Sphingidae
Size 75-110 mm wingspan 60-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions East Asia, Japan Europe, Central Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Great Purple Emperor

Japan's national butterfly, known as 'o-murasaki' in Japanese. Males display a stunning purple iridescence on their wings. A large and powerful flier found in deciduous forests.

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Did You Know?

Designated as Japan's national butterfly in 1957, the Great Purple Emperor is rarely seen feeding on flowers, preferring tree sap instead.

Spurge Hawkmoth

A striking hawkmoth with olive and pink forewings and rosy-red hindwings with a black base. Its caterpillar is equally spectacular with red, black, yellow, and white markings.

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Did You Know?

It has been introduced to North America as a biological control agent for invasive leafy spurge.