Swallow Prominent vs Madagascan Moon Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Swallow Prominent Madagascan Moon Moth
Scientific Name Pheosia tremula Argema mittrei male form
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Notodontidae Saturniidae
Size Wingspan 44-60mm 200 mm wingspan with 150 mm tails
Habitat Underground Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Swallow Prominent

A pale grey-white moth with a distinctive dark wedge-shaped mark along the inner edge of each forewing. It has a deeply toothed trailing wing edge.

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Did You Know?

Its name comes from the deeply notched trailing edge of the hindwings which gives them a swallow-tail like appearance.

Madagascan Moon Moth

The male form has exceptionally long tail streamers that can exceed 15 cm. These tails spin in flight, confusing bat echolocation.

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Did You Know?

The spinning tail streamers deflect bat attacks away from the moth's body.