Silk Moth vs Oberthur's Loepa Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silk Moth | Oberthur's Loepa Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombyx mori | Loepa oberthuri |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Bombycidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm wingspan | 80-105 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Asia, worldwide (domesticated) | Southern China, Vietnam |
| Conservation | Domesticated | Least Concern |
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.
Oberthur's Loepa Moth
A bright golden-yellow silk moth with distinctive violet-centered eyespots surrounded by rings of yellow and brown. It is found in the montane forests of southern China and Vietnam.
Did You Know?
Named after the famous French entomologist Charles Oberthur, who described many Asian Lepidoptera in the late 19th century.