Silk Moth vs Indianmeal Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silk Moth | Indianmeal Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombyx mori | Plodia interpunctella |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Bombycidae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm wingspan | 16-20 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Gardens |
| Diet | Herbivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Asia, worldwide (domesticated) | Worldwide |
| Conservation | Domesticated | Not Evaluated |
Silk Moth
The fully domesticated moth used in sericulture for over 5,000 years. Completely dependent on humans — adults cannot fly and larvae depend on hand-feeding mulberry leaves.
Did You Know?
The silk moth is so domesticated after 5,000 years of selective breeding that adults can no longer fly and caterpillars will starve rather than eat anything but mulberry leaves.
Indianmeal Moth
The most common stored-product moth pest, recognized by its two-toned wings with copper outer halves. Larvae spin silk webbing over food surfaces as they feed.
Did You Know?
Its common name comes from a report of it feeding on cornmeal, or 'Indian meal,' not from any connection to India.