Japanese Silk Moth vs Viceroy Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Silk Moth | Viceroy Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Antheraea yamamai | Limenitis archippus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | Wingspan 110-150 mm | 53-81 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Indoors | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Herbivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Japan, Korea, China | North America |
| 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.
Viceroy Butterfly
Orange and black wings resembling the Monarch but with a black postmedian line across the hindwings. Once thought to be a harmless mimic, it is actually unpalatable too.
Did You Know?
It is a Mullerian co-mimic with the Monarch, as both species are distasteful to predators.