Privet Hawk-moth vs Norse Grayling
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Privet Hawk-moth | Norse Grayling |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sphinx ligustri | Oeneis norna |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 90-120 mm wingspan | 44-54 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia |
| 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.
Norse Grayling
A medium-sized grayish-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small eyespots. The wings have a semi-translucent quality that helps with camouflage on lichen-covered ground. It has an erratic, low flight.
Did You Know?
This butterfly emerges in alternate years only, with populations synchronized so that all adults in an area appear in the same year.