Privet Hawk-moth vs Common Mime
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Privet Hawk-moth | Common Mime |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphinx ligustri | Papilio clytia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 90-120 mm wingspan | 80-100 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Privet Hawk-moth
Britain's largest resident moth, with a massive body bearing pink and black abdominal stripes. Its horn-tipped caterpillar is bright green with purple and white diagonal stripes.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar performs a sphinx-like pose when disturbed, which gave the Sphingidae family its name.
Common Mime
A polymorphic swallowtail butterfly that exists in two main forms: one mimicking the toxic Common Crow and the other mimicking the Blue Tiger. Both forms lack the typical swallowtail tails.
Did You Know?
The two distinct forms are controlled by a single genetic switch, making it one of the best examples of genetic polymorphism in butterflies.