Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth) vs Long-tailed Blue
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth) | Long-tailed Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Liothula omnivora | Lampides boeticus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Psychidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm (male wingspan); cases up to 100 mm | 24-34 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)
A native New Zealand bag moth whose caterpillars construct elaborate portable cases covered with twigs and leaf fragments. Female adults are wingless grubs that never leave their bags. Males are small dark moths that fly to find stationary females.
Did You Know?
The female bag moth never develops wings or legs and spends her entire life inside the bag, even laying her eggs within it before dying.
Long-tailed Blue
A small pale violet-blue butterfly with thin hairlike tails on the hindwings and prominent false eyespots near them. It is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world.
Did You Know?
The false head pattern on the hindwing tails tricks predators into attacking the wrong end of the butterfly.