Japanese Giant Silkmoth vs Navel Orangeworm

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Giant Silkmoth Navel Orangeworm
Scientific Name Saturnia japonica Amyelois transitella
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Pyralidae
Size 85-120 mm wingspan 20-28 mm wingspan
Habitat Mountains Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Japan North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Japanese Giant Silkmoth

A large reddish-brown moth with prominent eyespots on all four wings. It is endemic to Japan and closely related to the European Emperor Moth.

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Did You Know?

It is considered a harbinger of spring in rural Japan, where it is called 'kusu-san'.

Navel Orangeworm

The most damaging pest of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios in California. Larvae bore into nuts and contaminate them with frass and fungal spores.

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Did You Know?

It promotes aflatoxin contamination by introducing Aspergillus fungi into damaged nuts.