Nettle-tree Butterfly vs Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nettle-tree Butterfly Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth
Scientific Name Libythea celtis Hemaris fuciformis
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Sphingidae
Size Wingspan 40-50mm 38-48 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa Europe, Asia, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nettle-tree Butterfly

A medium butterfly with angular wings and an extremely long snout formed by elongated palps. Its wings are dark brown with orange patches.

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Did You Know?

Its elongated palps give it the longest snout of any European butterfly making it instantly recognizable.

Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth

A day-flying sphinx moth with transparent wings that mimic a bumblebee. The scales on its wings fall off on its first flight, leaving clear panels that enhance the bee illusion.

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Did You Know?

This moth deliberately sheds its wing scales on its maiden flight to become transparent — one of the only moths that intentionally destroys its own wing coloring.