Navel Orangeworm vs Golden Sun Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Navel Orangeworm Golden Sun Moth
Scientific Name Amyelois transitella Synemon plana
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pyralidae Castniidae
Size 20-28 mm wingspan 3-4 cm wingspan
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Grasslands
Diet Omnivores Root Feeders
Regions North America Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Critically Endangered

Navel Orangeworm

The most damaging pest of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios in California. Larvae bore into nuts and contaminate them with frass and fungal spores.

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Did You Know?

It promotes aflatoxin contamination by introducing Aspergillus fungi into damaged nuts.

Golden Sun Moth

A day-flying moth with dull grey-brown forewings and brilliant orange-gold hindwings. It is critically threatened by the loss of native grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Larvae live underground feeding on grass roots for up to three years before emerging as adults that live only days.