Small Magpie Moth vs Yucca Giant-Skipper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Magpie Moth | Yucca Giant-Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anania hortulata | Megathymus yuccae |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Crambidae | Hesperiidae |
| Size | 26-30 mm wingspan | 45-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Herbivores | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Southern and Eastern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Small Magpie Moth
A pretty white moth with black spots and a yellow head. Despite its name, it is a crambid rather than a geometrid like the true Magpie Moth.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar lives inside a rolled leaf shelter that it spins shut with silk.
Yucca Giant-Skipper
One of North America's largest skippers with dark wings spotted in yellow-orange. Its massive caterpillar bores into yucca roots and stems, creating a silk-lined tunnel.
Did You Know?
The pupa wriggles up through the tunnel before emergence, and empty pupal skins protruding from yucca plants reveal their presence.