Lana'i Sandalwood Moth vs Small Apollo
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lana'i Sandalwood Moth | Small Apollo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Iliahia pahulu | Parnassius phoebus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Gracillariidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm wingspan | 50-60 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Meadows |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania | Central Europe |
| Conservation | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Lana'i Sandalwood Moth
A critically endangered moth discovered in 2026, known only from a small grove of roughly 30 sandalwood trees on the island of Lanai. Its larvae mine sandalwood leaves.
Did You Know?
This moth is known from just one grove of 30 trees — if those sandalwood trees disappear, this entire species vanishes with them.
Small Apollo
A high-altitude alpine butterfly with translucent white wings bearing small red and black spots. It flies weakly over alpine meadows and scree slopes above the treeline.
Did You Know?
It only occurs above the treeline in the Alps and is one of Europe's highest-altitude butterflies.