Royal Walnut Moth vs Common Rustic
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Royal Walnut Moth | Common Rustic |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Citheronia sepulcralis | Mesapamea secalis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 75-100 mm | 26-34 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Southeastern United States | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Royal Walnut Moth
A rich brown moth with orange veins and small yellow spots. It is closely related to the regal moth but smaller and darker, found in southeastern pine forests.
Did You Know?
Citheronia sepulcralis is restricted to the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains and is far less commonly encountered than its more famous relative, the regal moth.
Common Rustic
A highly variable common moth that forms a species complex with the Lesser Common Rustic. External appearance is unreliable for identification. Larvae feed inside grass stems.
Did You Know?
So similar to its sibling species that they were not recognized as separate species until 1983.