Tawny Emperor vs Columbia Silk Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tawny Emperor | Columbia Silk Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Asterocampa clyton | Hyalophora columbia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 40-65 mm wingspan | 90-130 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Eastern and Central North America | Northern United States and Canada, particularly the Great Lakes region |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tawny Emperor
A warm tawny-brown butterfly with dark bars and a row of small eyespots on the hindwing. Unlike most butterflies, it rarely visits flowers, preferring tree sap and rotting fruit.
Did You Know?
It is strongly attracted to human perspiration and will readily land on sweaty hikers.
Columbia Silk Moth
A large reddish-brown silk moth closely related to the cecropia moth but found in northern bog habitats. Its cocoon is spun on larch branches rather than broad-leaved trees.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few silk moths adapted to boreal wetlands, where its larvae specialize on conifer needles instead of hardwood leaves.