Malagasy Atlas Moth vs Lana'i Sandalwood Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malagasy Atlas Moth Lana'i Sandalwood Moth
Scientific Name Epiphora bauhiniae Iliahia pahulu
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Gracillariidae
Size 100-140 mm wingspan 5-8 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Deserts & Drylands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Madagascar Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Critically Endangered

Malagasy Atlas Moth

A large silk moth with rich chestnut and cream wings bearing translucent triangular windows. The wings have scalloped margins and subtle eyespot markings.

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Did You Know?

Its transparent wing windows are thought to confuse predators by breaking up the moth's outline against the sky.

Lana'i Sandalwood Moth

A critically endangered moth discovered in 2026, known only from a small grove of roughly 30 sandalwood trees on the island of Lanai. Its larvae mine sandalwood leaves.

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Did You Know?

This moth is known from just one grove of 30 trees — if those sandalwood trees disappear, this entire species vanishes with them.