Large Emerald vs Four-spotted Footman Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Emerald Four-spotted Footman Moth
Scientific Name Geometra papilionaria Lithosia quadra
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Geometridae Erebidae
Size Wingspan 50-65mm 35-55 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Four-spotted Footman Moth

A large footman moth with strong sexual dimorphism; males are grey with two forewing spots, females yellow with four large blue-black spots. Females are significantly larger than males.

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Did You Know?

When handled, it can exude a yellow fluid from its thorax that stains skin.