Small Spurwing Mayfly vs Striped Hawkmoth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Spurwing Mayfly Striped Hawkmoth
Scientific Name Centroptilum luteolum Hyles livornica
Order Ephemeroptera Lepidoptera
Family Baetidae Sphingidae
Size 5-8 mm Wingspan 60-80mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe, Africa, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Small Spurwing Mayfly

A tiny, elegant mayfly with a distinctive spur on its hindwing. It is widespread in European streams and rivers with good water quality.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most mayflies that swarm over water, small spurwings often emerge individually and drift with the current.

Striped Hawkmoth

A streamlined hawk-moth with olive-brown forewings crossed by pale veins and pink-banded hindwings. It is a strong migrant covering thousands of kilometers.

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Did You Know?

It migrates northward from Africa each spring and has been recorded flying non-stop across the Sahara Desert.