Norse Grayling vs Columbia Silk Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Norse Grayling | Columbia Silk Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oeneis norna | Hyalophora columbia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 44-54 mm wingspan | 90-130 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia | Northern United States and Canada, particularly the Great Lakes region |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Norse Grayling
A medium-sized grayish-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small eyespots. The wings have a semi-translucent quality that helps with camouflage on lichen-covered ground. It has an erratic, low flight.
Did You Know?
This butterfly emerges in alternate years only, with populations synchronized so that all adults in an area appear in the same year.
Columbia Silk Moth
A large reddish-brown silk moth closely related to the cecropia moth but found in northern bog habitats. Its cocoon is spun on larch branches rather than broad-leaved trees.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few silk moths adapted to boreal wetlands, where its larvae specialize on conifer needles instead of hardwood leaves.