Silver-striped Hawk Moth vs Pearl Charaxes

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Silver-striped Hawk Moth Pearl Charaxes
Scientific Name Hippotion celerio Charaxes varanes
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae Nymphalidae
Size 60-80 mm wingspan 55-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda) Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Silver-striped Hawk Moth

A medium-sized hawk moth with olive-brown forewings and bright pink hindwings, featuring silver stripes along the body. It is a powerful migrant found throughout the tropics.

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Did You Know?

Its caterpillars have prominent eyespots that make them look like small snakes to deter predators.

Pearl Charaxes

A medium-sized charaxes butterfly with pearly white underwings and tawny-orange uppersides. It is one of the most common charaxes in southern Africa.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most butterflies, charaxes are attracted to rotting fruit and animal droppings rather than flowers.