Light Cahill Mayfly vs Pine Emperor Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Light Cahill Mayfly Pine Emperor Moth
Scientific Name Heptagenia solitaria Imbrasia cytherea
Order Ephemeroptera Lepidoptera
Family Heptageniidae Saturniidae
Size 9-13 mm 100-140 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Farmland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Southern Africa, East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Light Cahill Mayfly

A pale-colored mayfly highly prized by fly fishers for imitating hatches. Nymphs prefer moderate current over gravel substrates.

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Did You Know?

The Light Cahill dry fly pattern, designed to mimic this species, has been used since the 1880s.

Pine Emperor Moth

A large South African emperor moth with brown and cream banded wings. Its caterpillars can become significant defoliators of pine plantations in southern Africa.

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Did You Know?

Pine emperor moth caterpillars occasionally undergo population explosions that can completely defoliate large areas of commercial pine plantation.