Pea Weevil vs Poplar Hawk-moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pea Weevil Poplar Hawk-moth
Scientific Name Bruchus pisorum Laothoe populi
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Sphingidae
Size 4-5 mm 65-90 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Worldwide in pea-growing regions Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Pea Weevil

A small brownish beetle that lays eggs on developing pea pods. The larva eats its way into a single pea and develops entirely inside it.

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Did You Know?

Each larva consumes only one pea, leaving a perfectly round exit hole when it emerges.

Poplar Hawk-moth

A large grey-brown hawk-moth that holds its hindwings forward of the forewings at rest, creating an unusual silhouette. It is the most common hawk-moth across much of Europe.

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Did You Know?

When disturbed, it reveals a rust-orange patch on its hindwings to startle predators before dropping to the ground.