Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth vs Wasp Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth Wasp Beetle
Scientific Name Agarista agricola Clytus arietis
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Noctuidae Cerambycidae
Size 50-65 mm wingspan 7-14 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions Mauritius, Indian Ocean Islands Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Mauritius Lowland Forest Day Moth

A day-flying moth with black wings marked by white and orange patches. Found on Mauritius and neighboring Indian Ocean islands.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most moths, it is exclusively active during daylight and rests at night.

Wasp Beetle

A longhorn beetle with yellow and black banding that mimics a common wasp. It even moves in a jerky, wasp-like manner.

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Did You Know?

It is completely harmless but its convincing wasp mimicry deters most predators.