Map Butterfly vs Giant Peacock Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Map Butterfly | Giant Peacock Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Araschnia levana | Saturnia pyri |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 32-40 mm wingspan | 120-160 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Map Butterfly
A small butterfly that produces two dramatically different seasonal forms within the same year. Spring adults are orange with black spots; summer adults are black with white bands.
Did You Know?
The seasonal colour change is triggered by day length during the larval stage, not temperature.
Giant Peacock Moth
Europe's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 16 cm and prominent eyespots on all four wings. Its brown-gray wings are bordered with white and feature a distinctive dark comma-shaped mark.
Did You Know?
Jean-Henri Fabre used the giant peacock moth in his famous pheromone experiments in the 1870s, demonstrating that male moths could locate females from great distances by scent alone.