Lesser Death's-head Hawk Moth vs Numata Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Death's-head Hawk Moth | Numata Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acherontia styx | Heliconius numata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 80-115 mm | 60-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia | South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lesser Death's-head Hawk Moth
An Asian relative of the death's-head hawk moth, similarly marked with a skull pattern on the thorax. It is slightly smaller but equally capable of entering beehives to feed on honey.
Did You Know?
Like its European cousin, Acherontia styx can produce a squeaking sound by forcing air through its proboscis, which may mimic queen bee pheromones to pacify guard bees.
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.