Lunar Hornet Moth vs Malabar Tree Nymph
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lunar Hornet Moth | Malabar Tree Nymph |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sesia bembeciformis | Idea malabarica |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sesiidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 30–42 mm wingspan | 120-154 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | South Asia (India, endemic to the Western Ghats; also Sri Lanka) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Lunar Hornet Moth
A large clearwing moth that mimics a hornet and bores into willow and sallow trunks. Adults emerge in midsummer and are active in sunshine.
Did You Know?
The empty pupal skin can be found protruding from the exit hole on willow trunks long after the moth has emerged.
Malabar Tree Nymph
A very large, elegant butterfly with translucent white wings patterned with dark veins and spots. It flies slowly and gracefully through the forest canopy, resembling a floating tissue paper in the dappled light.
Did You Know?
Its slow, fearless flight is an advertisement of its unpalatability; birds that taste it quickly learn to avoid its distinctive pattern.