Small Emerald Moth vs Gold Cuckoo Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Emerald Moth Gold Cuckoo Wasp
Scientific Name Hemistola chrysoprasaria Chrysis fasciata
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Geometridae Chrysididae
Size 28-33 mm wingspan 7-11 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Southern Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Emerald Moth

A small, delicate moth with uniformly pale green wings and fine white fringe. It is one of the daintiest European emerald moths.

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Did You Know?

It feeds exclusively on wild clematis, making it confined to areas where this plant grows.

Gold Cuckoo Wasp

A brilliant green and gold metallic cuckoo wasp found across southern Europe. It parasitizes the nests of potter wasps and mud daubers.

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Did You Know?

Its metallic coloration is produced by nanoscale structures in the cuticle rather than pigments, similar to how opals create color.