Mediterranean Flour Moth vs Neotropical Blue Hairstreak
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mediterranean Flour Moth | Neotropical Blue Hairstreak |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ephestia kuehniella | Pseudolycaena marsyas |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pyralidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 10-14 mm body; 20-25 mm wingspan | 35-45 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Indoors | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Mediterranean Flour Moth
A major pest of flour mills that produces dense silken webbing that clogs milling machinery. It is pale grey with zigzag markings on the forewings.
Did You Know?
It was the first insect used to demonstrate biological pest control with parasitoid wasps in the early 1900s.
Neotropical Blue Hairstreak
A brilliant iridescent blue hairstreak butterfly with delicate tail streamers on the hind wings. Its underside is pale grey with fine dark lines.
Did You Know?
Its false head pattern on the hind wing tips, complete with fake antennae, tricks predators into attacking the wrong end.