Spruce Beetle vs Snout Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spruce Beetle | Snout Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendroctonus rufipennis | Vitessa suradeva |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Curculionidae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 40-50 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Alaska, western Canada, and the Rocky Mountain states | Southeast Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spruce Beetle
A dark brown to black bark beetle that is the primary killer of mature spruce trees in North America. Outbreaks are triggered by drought, windthrow, or warming temperatures.
Did You Know?
A single outbreak in Alaska during the 1990s killed spruce trees across more than one million acres.
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'.
Did You Know?
Caterpillars can tolerate feeding on toxic plants that would kill most other moth species.