Pine Hawk-moth vs Alpine Cave Springtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pine Hawk-moth Alpine Cave Springtail
Scientific Name Sphinx pinastri Onychiuroides alpinus
Order Lepidoptera Collembola
Family Sphingidae Onychiuridae
Size 70-87 mm wingspan 0.8-1.2 mm
Habitat Farmland Caves
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Italy
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Pine Hawk-moth

A sleek grey hawk-moth with dark streaks that provide perfect camouflage against pine bark. It is strongly associated with conifer plantations and native pinewoods.

💡

Did You Know?

When resting on a pine trunk, its streamlined body and bark-like colouring make it almost impossible to spot.

Alpine Cave Springtail

A recently described blind springtail from caves in the Italian Alps. It lacks eyes, pigment, and a jumping furca.

💡

Did You Know?

It survives in caves where temperatures remain just a few degrees above freezing.