Sweetbay Silk Moth vs Large Tortoiseshell
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sweetbay Silk Moth | Large Tortoiseshell |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Callosamia securifera | Nymphalis polychloros |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Saturniidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 80-105 mm | 54-65 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southeastern United States coastal plain | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) |
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.
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.
Large Tortoiseshell
A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now effectively extinct there. It hibernates as an adult in tree hollows.
Did You Know?
Its decline in Britain is thought to be linked to Dutch elm disease destroying its primary food plant.