Tawny Emperor vs Peppered Moth of New Zealand
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tawny Emperor | Peppered Moth of New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Asterocampa clyton | Cleora scriptaria |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Geometridae |
| Size | 40-65 mm wingspan | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Forests |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Eastern and Central North America | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| 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.
Peppered Moth of New Zealand
An endemic New Zealand geometrid moth known as the kawakawa looper, whose caterpillars feed on kawakawa and other native plants. The caterpillars are expert twig mimics, holding themselves rigid at an angle from the branch. Adults have speckled grey wings.
Did You Know?
The kawakawa looper caterpillar is such an effective twig mimic that it can be almost impossible to detect on a branch, even when you know it is there.