Privet Hawk-moth vs Prostoia Forestfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Privet Hawk-moth Prostoia Forestfly
Scientific Name Sphinx ligustri Prostoia besametsa
Order Lepidoptera Plecoptera
Family Sphingidae Nemouridae
Size 90-120 mm wingspan 5-8 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Europe, western Asia North America
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.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar performs a sphinx-like pose when disturbed, which gave the Sphingidae family its name.

Prostoia Forestfly

A small spring stonefly of eastern North American woodland streams. Nymphs are detritivores among leaf packs in gentle currents.

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Did You Know?

The genus name Prostoia was coined to distinguish these North American species from the European Protonemura.