Snout Moth vs Woolly Alder Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Snout Moth Woolly Alder Sawfly
Scientific Name Vitessa suradeva Eriocampa ovata
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Pyralidae Tenthredinidae
Size 40-50 mm wingspan 5-7 mm
Habitat Forests Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Southeast Asia Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Snout Moth

A large pyralid moth from Southeast Asia and New Guinea whose caterpillars spin webs on young leaves of poisonous shrubs. Adults have elongated labial palps forming a 'snout'.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars can tolerate feeding on toxic plants that would kill most other moth species.

Woolly Alder Sawfly

A small, dark sawfly whose larvae are covered in a white, woolly, waxy secretion. The larvae feed on the underside of alder leaves.

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Did You Know?

The white waxy covering on the larva closely resembles woolly aphids, a possible case of defensive mimicry.