Silver-spotted Ghost Moth vs Lichen Moth of New Zealand

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Silver-spotted Ghost Moth	Lichen Moth of New Zealand
Scientific Name	Sthenopis argenteomaculatus	Declana floccosa
Order	Lepidoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Hepialidae	Geometridae
Size	60-75 mm wingspan	35-50 mm wingspan
Habitat	Rivers & Streams	Forests
Diet	Root Feeders	Herbivores
Regions	Eastern North America	Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Silver-spotted Ghost Moth

A large ghost moth from North America with silver-spotted wings. Caterpillars bore into the roots of alder trees, taking two years to develop. Adults emerge for brief nocturnal mating flights.

💡

Did You Know?

Larvae spend up to two years boring through alder tree roots in waterlogged soil before pupating.

Lichen Moth of New Zealand

A beautifully camouflaged moth endemic to New Zealand that resembles a patch of lichen when resting on bark. Both the wings and body are patterned with greens, greys, and whites that perfectly mimic lichen. It is found in native forests throughout the country.

💡

Did You Know?

This moth's lichen-like camouflage is so convincing that it even has raised scale tufts on its wings that mimic the three-dimensional texture of lichen.