Japanese Lunar Moth vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Lunar Moth | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Actias aliena | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 80-120 mm wingspan | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Japanese Lunar Moth
A beautiful pale green moon moth found in Japan, known as 'o-mizuao.' Features long, elegant tail streamers on the hindwings. Closely related to the Luna moth of North America.
Did You Know?
The long tail streamers on the hindwings create acoustic interference that confuses bat echolocation, helping the moth evade predation.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.