Poplar Admiral vs Atlas Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Poplar Admiral Atlas Moth
Scientific Name Limenitis populi Attacus atlas
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Saturniidae
Size 70-90 mm wingspan 250-300 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Dung Feeders Herbivores
Regions Central and northern Europe, temperate Asia Asia
Conservation Least Concern (declining in western Europe) Least Concern

Poplar Admiral

Europe's largest nymphalid butterfly with broad dark wings bearing white bands and orange submarginal crescents. It is shy and rarely descends from the forest canopy.

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Did You Know?

It is so difficult to observe that many lepidopterists travel years before seeing one in the wild.

Atlas Moth

One of the largest moths in the world by wing area. Adults have no mouths and do not eat, living only 1-2 weeks on stored fat. Wing tips mimic snake heads.

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Did You Know?

The atlas moth has no mouth — as an adult, it cannot eat. It survives entirely on fat stored during its caterpillar stage, living just long enough to mate.