Oleander Hawkmoth vs Doris Longwing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Oleander Hawkmoth Doris Longwing
Scientific Name Daphnis nerii Heliconius doris
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae Nymphalidae
Size 80-120 mm wingspan 65-80 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Africa, Asia, Europe South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Oleander Hawkmoth

A large hawkmoth with beautiful camouflage patterns in shades of green and pink that perfectly match oleander leaves. It is a strong migrant.

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Did You Know?

Despite its larvae feeding on the highly toxic oleander plant, the caterpillars are not themselves poisonous to predators.

Doris Longwing

A highly variable Heliconius butterfly that occurs in multiple color forms including blue, red, and green morphs. All forms share the same basic wing shape but differ dramatically in color pattern. It inhabits the understory of dense tropical forests.

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Did You Know?

A single population can contain blue, red, and green color morphs, all controlled by a single genetic switch, making it a model for studying wing pattern evolution.