Pine Emperor Moth vs Common Lime Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pine Emperor Moth Common Lime Butterfly
Scientific Name Imbrasia cytherea Papilio demoleus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Papilionidae
Size 100-140 mm 80-100 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Orchards
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Africa, East Africa South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Caribbean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pine Emperor Moth

A large South African emperor moth with brown and cream banded wings. Its caterpillars can become significant defoliators of pine plantations in southern Africa.

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Did You Know?

Pine emperor moth caterpillars occasionally undergo population explosions that can completely defoliate large areas of commercial pine plantation.

Common Lime Butterfly

Black swallowtail covered in pale yellow spots and lacking hindwing tails. A major pest of citrus across Asia and recently invaded the Caribbean.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most successful invasive butterflies, having colonized the Caribbean since 2004.