Silver-spotted Skipper vs Lackey Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Silver-spotted Skipper Lackey Moth
Scientific Name Hesperia comma Malacosoma neustria
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Hesperiidae Lasiocampidae
Size 28-34 mm wingspan Wingspan 30-40mm
Habitat Grasslands Orchards
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia, North America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Silver-spotted Skipper

A small golden-brown butterfly with distinctive silvery spots on the green underside of its hindwings. It is restricted to short, sun-baked chalk grassland.

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Did You Know?

It requires turf shorter than 5 cm and bare ground patches warmed by the sun for egg-laying.

Lackey Moth

A pale tawny moth whose colorful striped caterpillars spin communal silk tents on trees.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars live together in conspicuous silk tents on trees and march out in processions to feed.