Puss Moth vs Diamondback Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Puss Moth Diamondback Moth
Scientific Name Cerura vinula Plutella xylostella
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Notodontidae Plutellidae
Size 58-80 mm wingspan 12-15 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Puss Moth

A furry white moth whose caterpillar has whip-like tail filaments and sprays formic acid.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar can shoot a jet of formic acid from a gland behind its head.

Diamondback Moth

A tiny grayish moth with a diamond-shaped pattern along its back when wings are folded. It is the most destructive pest of brassica crops worldwide.

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Did You Know?

It costs the global agriculture industry an estimated four to five billion dollars annually in losses and control measures.