Navel Orangeworm vs Tawny-edged Skipper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Navel Orangeworm | Tawny-edged Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amyelois transitella | Polites themistocles |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pyralidae | Hesperiidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm wingspan | 20-27 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Eastern and Central North America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
It promotes aflatoxin contamination by introducing Aspergillus fungi into damaged nuts.
Tawny-edged Skipper
A small brown skipper with a warm orange-tawny leading edge on the forewing. It is one of the most common grass skippers in eastern North America but is easily overlooked.
Did You Know?
It is named after the ancient Athenian general Themistocles, following a tradition of naming skippers after classical figures.