Mocker Swallowtail vs Black-waved Flannel Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mocker Swallowtail Black-waved Flannel Moth
Scientific Name Papilio dardanus Megalopyge crispata
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Megalopygidae
Size 80-105 mm wingspan 25-35 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Orchards
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mocker Swallowtail

A remarkable swallowtail where females mimic several different toxic butterfly species while males look completely different. Males are yellow and black with tails.

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Did You Know?

Females can occur in over a dozen different color forms, each mimicking a different toxic butterfly species.

Black-waved Flannel Moth

A fluffy white to yellowish moth with wavy dark lines across the forewings. Like its relative the puss moth, its caterpillar is densely hairy and delivers a painful sting.

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Did You Know?

The adult moth's long curly wing scales make it look remarkably like a tiny Persian cat.