Puriri Moth vs Caenis Glider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Puriri Moth | Caenis Glider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aenetus virescens | Cymothoe caenis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 100-150 mm wingspan | 50-65 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) | West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Puriri Moth
New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particularly puriri and putaputaweta, creating characteristic U-shaped tunnels. Adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Did You Know?
Puriri moth larvae can spend up to six years boring through living tree trunks before pupating and emerging as adults that live only a few days.
Caenis Glider
A widespread West African forest butterfly with orange-tawny males and brownish females with white markings. It is commonly found along forest paths and in clearings. The flight is a characteristic slow glide.
Did You Know?
This is one of the most commonly encountered Cymothoe species and is often the first glider butterfly new visitors to West African forests observe.