Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani) vs Malaysian Moon Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani) | Malaysian Moon Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lutzomyia whitmani | Actias maenas |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Psychodidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 100-130 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Brazil, South America | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lutzomyia Sand Fly (Whitmani)
A small sandfly that is the major vector of Leishmania braziliensis, which causes mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. It bites at the forest edge and in peridomestic environments. The disease it transmits can cause devastating destruction of nasal and oral mucosa.
Did You Know?
Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis transmitted by this fly can destroy the nose and palate, and was depicted in pre-Columbian pottery from Peru.
Malaysian Moon Moth
A large, pale green silk moth with long, twisted tails on the hindwings. The wings are adorned with translucent eyespots and bordered with a rich maroon-brown leading edge.
Did You Know?
The long twisted hindwing tails are thought to confuse bat echolocation, spinning in flight to create misleading sonar echoes.