Indian Tussock Moth vs Giant Silk Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Indian Tussock Moth | Giant Silk Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Euproctis lunata | Hyalophora euryalus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Erebidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm wingspan | 90-130 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) | Western North America, from British Columbia to Baja California |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Indian Tussock Moth
A yellow-brown moth with a distinctive dark crescent marking on the forewings. Its brightly colored, hairy caterpillars are covered in urticating hairs that cause severe skin rashes on contact.
Did You Know?
The urticating hairs of the caterpillar can cause painful welts and dermatitis lasting several days in people who handle them.
Giant Silk Moth
A large western North American silk moth with reddish-brown wings featuring bold white crescent markings and a red-and-white banded body. It is the Pacific coast counterpart of the cecropia moth.
Did You Know?
Hyalophora euryalus can hybridize with the cecropia moth where their ranges overlap, producing fertile offspring in a zone of intergradation.