Hag Moth vs Budding Purpuricenus
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hag Moth | Budding Purpuricenus |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phobetron pithecium | Purpuricenus budensis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Limacodidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm wingspan | 13-20 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Southeast Europe, Turkey, Iran, Caucasus |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hag Moth
A furry brown moth whose larva is called the monkey slug due to its bizarre shape with curly fleshy lateral projections. The caterpillar looks nothing like a typical lepidopteran larva.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar's curly brown appendages are thought to mimic a shed tarantula skin to deter predators.
Budding Purpuricenus
A colorful cerambycid with a red pronotum adorned with two black spots and entirely black elytra. It is found in thermophilous oak forests from Hungary to Iran. Larvae take two years to develop in dead oak branches.
Did You Know?
The species name budensis refers to Budapest, where it was first described in the 19th century.