Ilia Underwing vs Rothschild's Silkmoth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ilia Underwing Rothschild's Silkmoth
Scientific Name Catocala ilia Rothschildia jacobaeae
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Saturniidae
Size 70-95 mm wingspan 100-150 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf states Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Ilia Underwing

A large moth with bark-patterned gray forewings that conceal bright reddish-orange and black hindwings. When startled, it flashes its colorful hindwings to confuse predators.

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Did You Know?

It rests head-down on tree trunks during the day, where its cryptic forewings blend perfectly with oak bark.

Rothschild's Silkmoth

A large silkmoth with reddish-brown wings featuring bold triangular translucent patches. Each wing also bears a crescent-shaped eyespot.

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Did You Know?

The clear windows in its wings are completely scaleless, which is unusual since moth wings are normally covered in thousands of scales.