House Longhorn Beetle vs Privet Hawk-moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute House Longhorn Beetle Privet Hawk-moth
Scientific Name Hylotrupes bajulus Sphinx ligustri
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Cerambycidae Sphingidae
Size 8–25 mm 90-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia Europe, western Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

House Longhorn Beetle

A serious structural pest of softwood timber in buildings worldwide. Larvae can feed inside roof timbers for up to ten years before emerging.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can be heard chewing inside timber, making rasping sounds that are audible through walls.

Privet Hawk-moth

Britain's largest resident moth, with a massive body bearing pink and black abdominal stripes. Its horn-tipped caterpillar is bright green with purple and white diagonal stripes.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar performs a sphinx-like pose when disturbed, which gave the Sphingidae family its name.