Indian Tussock Moth vs Priamus Birdwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Indian Tussock Moth Priamus Birdwing
Scientific Name Euproctis lunata Ornithoptera priamus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Papilionidae
Size 25-35 mm wingspan 120-190 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) Oceania (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, northern Australia)
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.

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Did You Know?

The urticating hairs of the caterpillar can cause painful welts and dermatitis lasting several days in people who handle them.

Priamus Birdwing

A large and variable birdwing butterfly found across Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and parts of northern Australia. Males display vivid green and black wings. It is the most widespread species in the genus Ornithoptera.

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Did You Know?

This species shows extraordinary colour variation across its range, with over 100 subspecies described from different islands.