Northern Black Fly vs Luna Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern Black Fly | Luna Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Simulium venustum | Actias luna |
| Order | Diptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Simuliidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm | 80-115 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Northern Black Fly
A common biting black fly of northern forests and boreal streams. Larvae form dense colonies on submerged rocks in cold flowing water.
Did You Know?
Females can detect carbon dioxide exhaled by hosts from over 20 meters away.
Luna Moth
A stunning lime-green moth with long trailing hindwing tails. Adults live only about one week. The long tails confuse bat echolocation by creating false echoes.
Did You Know?
The luna moths long tail streamers confuse bat sonar — they spin behind the moth creating acoustic illusions that cause bats to miss their target 47% of the time.