Sweetbay Silk Moth vs Dingy Footman Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sweetbay Silk Moth Dingy Footman Moth
Scientific Name Callosamia securifera Eilema griseola
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Erebidae
Size 80-105 mm 31-37 mm wingspan
Habitat Wetlands Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Detritivores
Regions Southeastern United States coastal plain Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sweetbay Silk Moth

A large silk moth similar to the promethea but associated with sweetbay magnolia in the southeastern United States. Males are dark brown-black and females are reddish-brown.

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Did You Know?

The sweetbay silk moth is so closely tied to wetland habitats that its distribution precisely mirrors that of sweetbay magnolia swamps along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Dingy Footman Moth

A small pale straw-yellow moth with slightly darker forewing edges. It rests flat-winged unlike many other footman moths.

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Did You Know?

Despite being called 'dingy', fresh specimens are actually a rather attractive pale gold color.