Japanese Silk Moth vs Large Emerald

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Silk Moth Large Emerald
Scientific Name Antheraea yamamai Geometra papilionaria
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Geometridae
Size Wingspan 110-150 mm Wingspan 50-65mm
Habitat Indoors Heathland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Japan, Korea, China Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Japanese Silk Moth

A large wild silk moth native to Japan with striking yellow-brown wings bearing prominent eyespots. Its silk was historically used to produce high-quality tensan fabric.

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Did You Know?

Its silk, called tensan, is naturally green-tinged and was reserved for Japanese imperial garments.

Large Emerald

A beautiful bright green moth with delicate white wavy lines across both wings. Its green color fades to whitish after death.

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Did You Know?

Its green pigment is bile-derived and extremely fugitive fading from emerald to pale white in museum specimens within years.