Japanese Silk Moth vs Numata Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Silk Moth | Numata Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antheraea yamamai | Heliconius numata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | Wingspan 110-150 mm | 60-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Indoors | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Japan, Korea, China | South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) |
| 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.
Did You Know?
Its silk, called tensan, is naturally green-tinged and was reserved for Japanese imperial garments.
Numata Longwing
A remarkable butterfly that exists in over a dozen wing pattern forms, each mimicking a different species of toxic Melinaea butterfly. Despite their different appearances, all forms belong to the same species. Wing pattern variation is controlled by a supergene on a single chromosome.
Did You Know?
Its wing pattern diversity is controlled by a chromosomal inversion that acts as a supergene, one of the best-studied examples of this genetic mechanism.