Orizaba Silk Moth vs Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Orizaba Silk Moth Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle
Scientific Name Rothschildia orizaba Cicindela sexguttata
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Saturniidae Cicindelidae
Size 110-145 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Mexico, Central America, southwestern United States Eastern United States and southeastern Canada
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Orizaba Silk Moth

A magnificent New World silk moth with large reddish-brown wings bearing conspicuous triangular clear windows. It was historically reared for its silk in parts of Mexico.

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Did You Know?

Indigenous peoples of Mexico once used the silk from Rothschildia orizaba cocoons to weave a coarse fabric, making it one of the few New World silk moths commercially utilized.

Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle

A brilliant metallic green beetle with six white spots on its elytra. It is an agile predator commonly seen on forest paths in spring.

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Did You Know?

It runs so fast while chasing prey that it temporarily goes blind and must stop to re-locate its target.