Spotted Hydropsyche Caddisfly vs Poplar Hawk-moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spotted Hydropsyche Caddisfly Poplar Hawk-moth
Scientific Name Hydropsyche slossonae Laothoe populi
Order Trichoptera Lepidoptera
Family Hydropsychidae Sphingidae
Size 10-14 mm 65-90 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spotted Hydropsyche Caddisfly

A net-spinning caddisfly with tan to brown mottled wings. Larvae build intricate silken nets between rocks to capture drifting food particles in stream currents.

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Did You Know?

The mesh size of their silk nets varies by species, allowing different species to partition food resources in the same stream.

Poplar Hawk-moth

A large grey-brown hawk-moth that holds its hindwings forward of the forewings at rest, creating an unusual silhouette. It is the most common hawk-moth across much of Europe.

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Did You Know?

When disturbed, it reveals a rust-orange patch on its hindwings to startle predators before dropping to the ground.