Mother of Pearl Moth vs Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mother of Pearl Moth Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Scientific Name Patania ruralis Papilio glaucus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Crambidae Papilionidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 79-140 mm wingspan
Habitat Hedgerows Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia, introduced to North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mother of Pearl Moth

A large crambid moth with translucent pearlescent wings bearing subtle brown markings. It is one of the larger and more attractive European grass moths.

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Did You Know?

Its wings have an opalescent sheen that gives the moth its poetic common name.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

A large yellow butterfly with bold black tiger stripes and blue and orange markings on the hindwing margins. Females can occur in a dark morph mimicking the toxic pipevine swallowtail.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar has large false eyespots and can evert an orange forked gland called an osmeterium that emits a foul smell to deter predators.