Orange-barred Sulphur vs Hag Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Orange-barred Sulphur Hag Moth
Scientific Name Phoebis philea Phobetron pithecium
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pieridae Limacodidae
Size Wingspan 67-80mm 20-28 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Orchards
Diet Herbivores Wood Feeders
Regions North America, South America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Orange-barred Sulphur

A large bright yellow butterfly with orange bar markings on the upper forewings. Females are more muted with reddish markings.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol large territories and engage in spiraling aerial battles with rivals that can last several minutes.

Hag Moth

A furry brown moth whose larva is called the monkey slug due to its bizarre shape with curly fleshy lateral projections. The caterpillar looks nothing like a typical lepidopteran larva.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar's curly brown appendages are thought to mimic a shed tarantula skin to deter predators.