Imbrasia Silk Moth vs Striped Hawkmoth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Imbrasia Silk Moth Striped Hawkmoth
Scientific Name Imbrasia epimethea Hyles livornica
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Sphingidae
Size 90-130 mm Wingspan 60-80mm
Habitat Grasslands Rivers & Streams
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions West and Central Africa Europe, Africa, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Imbrasia Silk Moth

A large West African saturniid with reddish-brown wings bearing dark eyespots. Its caterpillars are among the most widely consumed edible insects in the Congo Basin.

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Did You Know?

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, caterpillars of Imbrasia epimethea are a staple food and are sold in markets throughout the country.

Striped Hawkmoth

A streamlined hawk-moth with olive-brown forewings crossed by pale veins and pink-banded hindwings. It is a strong migrant covering thousands of kilometers.

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Did You Know?

It migrates northward from Africa each spring and has been recorded flying non-stop across the Sahara Desert.